THE SYRIAN BEAR, OR DUBB. 395 
aud when he does so, it is generally because he is rendered desperate by the pangs of 
hunger. In such a case, the Bear is greatly to be dreaded by the benighted traveller, 
especially if he happen to be journeying alone and has no companion who may share his 
watch. 
That wild beasts of all kinds are scared away by fire is a well-known fact, but the 
hungry Bear is of so cunning a nature that it even sets at defiance the flaming circle 
which would at other times afford a secure protection to the sleeping traveller. It is true 
that the Bear does not venture to cross the fiery barrier, but it contrives to avoid the 
difficulty in a most ingenious manner. Going to the nearest stream, it immerses itself 
into the water so as to saturate its fur with moisture, and then, returning to the spot 
where the intended prey lies asleep, the animal rolls over the flaming embers, quenching 
the glowing brands, and then makes its attack upon the sleeper. This curious fact is well 
known among the natives of Siberia, so that they have good grounds for the respect in 
which they hold the Bear’s intellectual powers. 
The Bear is possessed of several valuable accomplishments, being a wonderful climber 
of trees and rocks, an excellent swimmer ; and a good digger. 
During the time when it is engaged in feeding, the Bear is constantly in the habit of 
climbing up all kinds of elevated spots, for the purpose of obtaining food, either 
vegetable or animal. Leaves of various trees are a favourite article of diet with the 
animal, as are also the nests of the wild bees and ants. Trusting to its powers of 
swimming, the Bear does not hesitate to cross considerable rivers in search of food or in 
order to escape from its enemies, and it is in the habit of taking frequent baths during 
the hotter months of the year for the sake of cooling its heated frame. Its digging 
capabilities are brought into use on many occasions, such as the demolition of an 
ant’s nest previous to swallowing the inhabitants, or in scraping for itself a comfortable 
habitation for the winter. 
The number of cubs which the female Bear produces is from one to four, and 
they are very small during the first few days of their existence. They make their 
appearance at the end of January or the beginning of February, and it is a curious fact 
that, although the mother has at the time been deprived of food for nearly three months, 
and does not take any more food until the spring, she is able to afford ample nourishment 
to her young without suffering any apparent diminution in her condition. It is said by 
those who have had personal experience of the habits of the Bear, that the mother takes 
the greatest care of her offspring during the summer, but that when winter approaches, 
she does not suffer them to partake of her residence, but prepares winter quarters for them 
in her immediate neighbourhood. During the winter, another little family is born, and 
when they issue forth from their home, they are joined by the elder cubs, and the two 
families pass the next winter in the mother’s den. 
The SyrraN BeAr, which is otherwise known by the names of Duss, or RircK, is 
doubly interesting to us, not only on account of its peculiarly g gentle character, but from 
the fact that it is the animal which is so often mentioned in the ‘Scriptural writings under 
the title of the Bear. The animals which are represented as issuing from the wood and 
avenging the insults offered to Elisha, and the Bear which David attacked and killed in 
defence of his flock, belonged to the species which is now known by the name of the 
Syrian Bear. 
Even at the present day, the precise number of species into which the members of 
the Dear tribe are resolvable, is not very satisfactorily ascertained. It seems evident, 
however, that the Ritck, Isabella Bear, or Syrian Bear, may fairly be considered as 
a separate species. 
The colour of this animal is rather peculiar, and varies extremely during the different 
periods of its life. While it is in its earliest years, the colour of its fur is a greyish- 
brown, but as the animal increases in years, the fur becomes gradually lighter in tint, and 
when the Bear has attaimed maturity, is nearly white. The hair is long and slightl 
curled, and beneath the longer hair is a thick and warm covering of closely -set woolly 
fur, which seems to defend the animal from the extremes. of heat or cold, Along the 
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