RANGE OF POLAR BEAR 



truth, for as a rule the males and females go about in 

 solitary walks, is one of those animals which go right 

 round the pole. It is found in Greenland and Spitz- 

 bergen and other places within the arctic circle ; in past 

 times it extended its range farther south probably 

 when the climatic conditions were more severe over 

 northern Europe than they are at present ; for its 

 remains have been found in the neighbourhood of Ham- 

 burg. The underside of the feet of this bear are partly 

 covered with fur and not naked and horny merely as in 

 other bears. It seems clear that this furriness can be 

 put down to a need for progressing with safety upon 

 slippery ice. It eats seals and dead whales, but es- 

 pecially seals. It has been known also to clear off a 

 series of eider duck's eggs. This bear does not seem to 

 be particularly fierce unless provoked. The general 

 impression of ferocity which a large carnivore inspires 

 has no doubt led to some exaggeration of its aggressive- 

 ness. At the Zoo, polar bears are as a rule noteworthy 

 for their affability to the general public. One of the 

 triumphs of longevity at the Zoo was a bear of this 

 species, who lived in those gardens, for no less than 

 thirty-seven years. The polar bear does not give that 

 hug for which bears are so notorious ; it contents itself 

 with biting. 



THE GLUTTON 



The glutton or wolverene is as handsome a beast as is 

 any of the fur-bearing animals of the north. It is cir- 

 cumpolar, as are so many creatures of the north, and 

 though now not found in Europe at a lower range than 

 Norway, it was German a few centuries ago. More 

 centuries ago still, in fact thousands of years since, the 

 glutton dwelt in this island, as its remains in Norfolk 

 show us. In spite of its regrettable habits, upon which 

 we propose to enlarge immediately, the glutton is a 



ill 



