THE WHITE BEAR. 443 
white bear whole and perfect ; and to obtain this, it was necessary 
to kill the animal without shooting him. He thought he would 
lay a cord on the snow with a running knot, within which was 
put a bait. A bear, climbing about on the ice, was attracted by 
the bait; he seized the treacherous cord, and was caught by his 
paw; however, he managed by the help of his other paw to get 
away, and bore off his prize to eat in security. The snare was 
laid again. The bear came a second time, and remembering 
what had happened before, he put aside the cord, and snatched 
the bait. A third attempt was made; the cord being hidden 
with snow; but this did not succeed. For a last trial, the bait 
was put into a hole, so deep that the bear could not take it 
without putting in his head; a noose was arranged round the 
opening, concealed by snow. Success seemed certain; but alas, 
vain hope! the suspicious animal began by delicately removing 
the snow, discovered the cord, put it carefully aside, took up 
the prize, and disappeared. 
Scoresby believes that when a bear is wounded, but is able to 
get away, he retires behind some height, and applies snow to 
the wound with his paw, as though he knew the styptic property 
of cold. 
The female has her young in the month of March. She usually 
has one or two at a time, very rarely three. The little ones are 
remarkably small. The attachment of the female for its young 
inspires her with a courage well worthy of admiration. 
The following occurrence was observed by the frigate on which 
the famous Nelson began his naval career. This frigate was in the 
polar regions in 1773. At daybreak one morning, three bears were 
seen from the top of the mast coming very quickly over the ice 
towards the vessel. The men made out that it was a female, 
accompanied by two young bears almost as strong as their 
mother. All three ran to a stove, into which some remains of a 
porpoise had been thrown; they drew out the pieces of flesh which 
the fire had not consumed. The mother distributed the pieces, 
giving the largest share to her young ones. The sailors seized this 
moment to fire at the two young bears, who remained at the stove, 
and also at the mother, whom they wounded without killing. Her 
