270 Proceedings of the Boyal Physical Society, 



on shore we might expect bears, for they came in on the 

 outer pack, when it impinged upon the land -floe. In 

 stalking, they are most circumspect and deliberate, looking 

 quite unconcerned and unconscious of anything they wish to 

 investigate. Thus a young cub we had would stalk and 

 seize some pups, whose yells alone would proclaim the fact. 

 To see their prey more clearly, they will raise themselves on 

 their hind legs, crane their necks, and even jump up when 

 in this posture. In my opinion, the polar bear never hugs ; 

 it strikes with its fore paws and claws, and may attempt to 

 seize with the mouth. Defending itself from the attack of 

 dogs, it faces them, and will back up to a berg or hummock 

 as a vantage point. 



Once I saw a bear stalking a seal in a small pool among 

 the pack-ice. For ten minutes the bear squatted on his 

 belly watching, intently expectant, and ready to strike, but 

 when he saw the game was gone, he slowly withdrew. 

 Before this event he was approaching our ship, but now he 

 had forgotten or lost all interest in her. With their curiosity 

 is combined destructiveness ; they would rip up tins in our 

 depots and tear down flags. Sometimes they will abstain 

 from molesting. I have known bears come quite close to 

 our camp, investigate ponies, sleeping dogs, etc., and go away 

 again. On the other hand, I have known them kill a sleeping 

 dog wantonly, leaving it uneaten. Bears will glissade down 

 steep slopes. Bears do not necessarily get thin in the winter. 

 I have notes of many being fat and in excellent condition. 

 It would appear that the less skilful hunters, such as old or 

 young bears, only are the thin ones : they can undoubtedly 

 continue a considerable time without food, and not suffer 

 much. 



The coat during summer is more ragged and yellow than 

 during winter ; for then they are casting their coat, and the 

 hair is old, has lost its gloss, is dying in fact ; and some 

 parts not infrequently are almost bare — the belly, for 

 instance. It matches well with the frequent yellow pieces 

 of ice in the summer pack. The perfect winter coat is 

 creamy white, and is also difficult to see among its more 

 wintry surroundings. 



