io8 Game of Europe, W. & N. Asia & America 



kills by swimming along the edges of the ice-flow or pack-ice and striking 

 them as they lie asleep with their head close to, or even hanging over, the 

 water. So stealthy, too, are its movements when on the ice, that it is 

 reported to kill with ease the seals as they lie basking alongside their 

 breathing-holes, although this is a task which often baffles the European 

 hunter armed with a rifle. It is not, however, to be assumed that the 

 white bear altogether disdains vegetable food, for at least one has 

 been observed grazing as busily as a brown bear ; while a specimen in 

 captivity was fed for years on bread alone. 



At the commencement of winter, that is to say, about the end of 

 September in the Hudson Bay territory, the pregnant females retire to a 

 hiding-place beneath the snow in some inland spot, where they remain till 

 the spring, bringing forth their oflspring (generally two in number) 

 meanwhile. The male bears, it is said, generally or always accompany 

 their partners to their hiding-places, in which they see them safely 

 ensconced ; after which they return to the coast, where, in some districts 

 at any rate, they are active throughout the winter. In the more northern 

 portions ot their range bears of both sexes disappear during winter, and it 

 has consequently been suggested that both hibernate. But this disappear- 

 ance may well be caused by the migration of the males to more southern 

 regions, where, as noted above, they remain active at all times ; and there 

 does not appear to be any authenticated instance of a male bear having 

 been tound in a dormant condition. In this connection the testimony of 

 Mr. A. Pike may be quoted : — 



" No beast on the earth lives a harder life than the polar bear. 

 Relying solely on the chase, it roams continually amongst the ice. Even 

 during the winter it does not retire from the battle of life, like its less 

 hardy congeners, but wanders on through the storm and lasting darkness, 

 tor this species does not as a rule hibernate. It is alleged elsewhere that 

 the female difl^ers in this respect from the male, hibernating while he 



