158 CARNIVORA. 



— about 4 inches long ; the fur is white, and rather 

 coarse, owing to Hving in the sea ; the nose and eyes 

 are black ; the neck is longer than in the other Bears ; 

 the pelt is thick, harsh, and rather heavy ; there is no 

 hump of fur between the shoulders ; the canine teeth 

 are well developed ; in the incisors of the upper jaw is 

 a groove, into which the lower incisors fit, thus forming 

 so firm a hold that its slippery prey is unable to escape. 



The flesh of the Polar Bear was largely eaten by the 

 seamen wrecked in the ship Eira when exploring in the 

 region of San Josef Land. 



It is of a bold disposition, fighting with tenacity, 

 though not with the grim ferocity of the Grizzly Bear. 

 It dives and swims well, and is often captured and sent 

 to Europe. Whilst on board ship, it is generally 

 enclosed in a cask. Captain Markham says that the 

 Polar Bear is easily killed in the water, but it is more 

 difficult to shoot on the ice. 



Polar Bears are supposed to have opened the dep6t of 

 clothes and provisions left by Captain Beechey on Mel- 

 ville Island. The contents were scattered, and the cloth 

 unrolled and torn into shreds. The spirit casks, how- 

 ever, were left untouched. 



The White Bear feeds on fish, but Seals are its 

 favourite food. It is also said to feed sometimes on 

 grass, and at times to capture a Walrus. 



It is occasionally taken by sealers on the look-out for 

 Seals on the floes of ice in April. These skins are 

 thinner and of poorer quality than those taken in the 

 winter ; these are generally salted by the seamen. 



The best skins come from Greenland, where they are 

 well flayed by the natives in prime winter condition. 

 They are generally in perfect condition, and remain 

 white, which is said to be due to the skins being dragged 



