ROLLING STONES. 



137 



THIS invention has also been anticipated in Nature. 



Putting aside the obvious reflection that the most primitive 

 warriors must have noticed the effects of stones falling over 

 a precipice, we have, in Captain Hall's " Life with the 

 Esquimaux," a curious account of the Polar Bear and its mode 

 of killing the Walrus. Gigantic as is this animal, and terrible 

 as are its. tusks, the Polar Bear will sometimes attack it in a 

 very singular manner. The Beur springs on a sleeping Walrus, 

 and clings to its shoulders with one paw, and with repeated 

 blows from the other, fractures its skull. 



Still, the combat is sure to be a severe one, and so the Polar 

 Bear will, if be can, secure his prey by some other method. 



" The natives tell many most interesting anecdotes of the 

 Bear, showing that they are accustomed to watch his move- 

 ments closely. He has a very ingenious method of killing the 

 Walrus. 



" In August, every fine day, the Walrus makes its way to 

 the Vhore, draws its huge body upon the rocks, and basks in 

 the sun. If this happen near the base of a cliff, the ever- 

 watchful Bear takes advantage of the circumstance to attack 



BEAR KILLING WALRUS. 



AVARRIORS DEFENDING A PASS. 



his formidable game in this way. The Bear mounts the clift, 

 and throws down upon the animal's head a large rock, calcu- 

 lating the distance and the curve with astonishing accuracy, 

 ar:f! thus crushing the thick, bullet-proof skull. 



"If the Walrus is not instantly killed, or simply stunned, 



