3o6 on the polar hear. Oct. ^i. 



part of animals which inhabit the earth ; while 

 others delight so much in cold, that they are onlj 

 to be found in those regions where frost and ice 

 eternally abound. To some, the sandy desart, a- 

 lone, is found to supply their wants ; while others 

 can only exist in swamps and marlhy bogs. The 

 water, itself, and air, and every thing we touch or 

 handle, is full of life. 



Among the quadrupeds of the coldest regions, the 

 polar bear is the most conspicuous, not only for it* 

 size, but for its amazing strength, agility, and fero- 

 city. In size it greatly exceeds all other animals 

 of the bear tribe, being sometimes found to measure 

 thirteen feet in length. Its limbs are of great 

 thicknefs and strength ; its hair long, harlh and dis- 

 agreeable to the touch, and of a yellowilh white co- 

 lour i and it has the singular peculiarity of being 

 naturally disposed into tufts, very much resembliag 

 the manner in which a brufh is made ; its ears «re 

 fhort and rounded ; its muzzle long and fharpifli ; aud- 

 its teeth large. 



It has seldom been seen farther south than New- 

 foundland ; but abounds chiefly on the (bores of 

 Hudson's Bay and Greenland, on one side, and Spitz- 

 bergen and Nova Zembla on the other. 



" There, the {hapelefs bear. 



With dangling ice all horrid, s:aliiS fcurlorn. 

 Slow-pac'd, and sourer as the storms increase, 

 He makes his bed beneath th' inclement drift, 

 And, with stein patience, scorning weak complaint. 

 Hardens his heart against afsailing want." 



During summer, they take up their residence on 

 large islands of ice, and frequently pafg from one to 



