TIE ICE-BEAR. 135 
guishes himself by his white sleek-haired fur, but also by a much 
longer neck. His half-webbed feet show at once that he is born for 
a sea life, and he is able to swim three miles an hour, and to dive 
for a considerable length of time. On land he runs as fast again 
as a man, and often surprises his prey, as his tread upon the snow 
is almost inaudible. He principally lives on fish, but also on 
seals, birds, foxes, reindeer, and even at- 
tacks man—particularly when pinched 
with hunger. But in his turn he falls 
a prey to the inhabitants of the Arctic 
regions, who eat the flesh, though it is 
very coarse, and use the skin for 
coverings of various kinds. He is a cunning hunter, though 
not always successful. Thus one sunshiny day, Admiral 
Beechey saw a large walrus rise in a 
pool of water not very far from where 
he stood. After looking around, the 
grim-visaged creature drew his greasy 
carcase upon the ice, where he rolled 
about for a time, and at length laid 
himself down to sleep. A bear, which 
had probably been observing his move- 
ments, crawled carefully upon the ice 
on the opposite side of the pool, and 
began to roll about also, but apparently Agate Walrus. 
more with design than amusement, pro- 
gressively lessening the distance that intervened between him 
and his prey. The suspicious walrus drew himself up, prepara- 
tory to a precipitate retreat, when immediately the bear remained 
motionless, as if in the act of sleep; but after a time he began to 
lick his paws, and clean himself, and occasionally to encroach a 
little more upon his intended victim. This time, however, his 
cunning was useless, for the walrus suddenly plunged into the 
pool, and though the bear, throwing off all disguise, rushed to 
the spot and followed him in an instant into the water, he was 
most likely disappointed of a meal that would have made up for 
a long period of fasting. The ice-bear is everywhere at home 
within the Arctic circle, and particularly abounds on Spitzbergen 
and the other small islands of that sea. He sometimes comes 
floating on drift ice to the north coasts of Iceland, Norway, 
and Newfoundland, but is soon killed by the inhabitants. 
