THE RACOON. 415 
animal has taken up her residence in her new abode, she is effectually concealed from 
observation by the heavy snow-drifts, which cover the whole country with such strangely- 
shaped hills and valleys that the Bear’s den is entirely undiscoveranle by the eye. 
Sometimes the Bear will wait until a heavy fall of snow has taken place, and then will 
dig away the snow so as to form a cavern of the requisite size. In all cases, the snow 
appears to be a necessary element in the wellbeing of the animal during its long winter’s 
repose. If the female Bear should not be about to take upon herself the cares of 
maternity, she does not think herself bound to he hidden during the winter, but traverses 
the ice-fields together with the male, and becomes very fat during the cold months of the 
year. These nomad individuals do not confine their peregrinations to the sea-shore, but 
extend their journeys inland to a considerable distance, being sometimes found as far as 
thirty miles from the sea-coast. 
The young of the Nennook are generally two in number ; and when they make their 
first appearance outside the snow- built nursery in which their few months of existence 
have been passed, are about the size of shepherds’ dogs, and in excellent condition. Their 
mother, however, is sadly reduced by her long fast and the calls which have been made 
upon her by her offspring; so that she re-enters the world in a very poor condition of 
aspect and temper, as might be expected of so ravenous and hungry an animal. 
Watchful over the safety of her cubs, and unburdened by any superfluous flesh, she is a 
very dangerous personage to be casually met with; for she is so savage with hunger that 
her temper is in a constant state of irritation ; and she is so jealous of the safety of her 
offspring that she suspects every mov ing object to be an enemy. 
The flesh of the Polar Bear is eatable, and is highly esteemed by the Arctic voyagers, 
who eagerly welcome a supply of fresh and wholesome meat such as is furnished by the 
animal in question. It is said, however, that the liver ought to be avoided as an article 
of diet, as it is apt to cause painful and even dangerous symptoms to those who have 
partaken of it. Yet the liver of the American Black Bear is said to be a peculiar 
luxury when dressed on skewers, kabob fashion, with alternate slices of fat. 
Ir will be observed, after the perusal of the foregoing pages, that the Bears are found 
in almost every part of the world, with two notable exceptions, viz. Africa and Australia. 
With regard to the latter of these countries, it may be remembered that the entire 
creation, whether animal or vegetable, is of so strange a nature that it cannot be 
subjected to the rules which govern the rest of the world. There is, it is true, a tree- 
climbing creature in Australia, of a somewhat clumsy and wrsine aspect, which is 
popularly called the Australian Bear, but which is in reality no Bear at all, but a 
member of the curious family of the Macropidee, which contains the kangaroos, 
bandicoots, and opossums, and will be shortly described in its proper place under the title 
of the Koala. With regard to the African continent, the existence or non-existence of 
Bears is by no means decided. 
Many of the ancient historians make constant mention of African Bears. Juvenal, 
for instance, speaks of Numidian Bears, Virgil and Martial of Libyan Bears, while it is 
recorded in the annals of the Roman empire, that in the year B.c. 61, a hundred 
Numidian Bears were exhibited in the circus, each Bear led by a negro-hunter. None, 
however, of the later African travellers have clearly seen Bears in that country, and it is 
certain that from the days of Pliny up to the present time no true Bears have been found 
in Africa. Still, it is very possible that these animals may be yet discovered in that vast 
continent ; for there seems to be no reason why Bears should be unable to exist im some 
parts of so large a country, although they might not be able to find subsistence in those 
portions which have already been investigated. 
PRESERVING somewhat of the ursine aspect and much of the ursine habits, the 
Racoon, or MAPacu, as it is sometimes named, is an active, spirited, and amusing animal. 
As it is readily tamed, although rather subject to occasional infirmity of temper, and is 
inquisitive, quaint, and lively withal, it is a great favourite with such persons as have 
kept it in captivity. 
