THE BEAR. 

 THE BEAR. 





IN the Hebrew, this animal is very expressively called the grumfi- 

 7er, or growler. 



Ther are three kinds of the bear known : the white, the black, 

 and the brown. Of the two former the scripture does not speak ; 

 the latter kind being the only one known in the Eastern regions. 

 The brown bear, says Buffon, is not only savage but solitary ; he 

 takes refuge in the most unfrequented parts, and the most danger- 

 ons precipices and uninhabited mountains. It chooses its den in 

 the most gloomy parts of the forest, in some cavern that has been 

 hollowed by time, or in the hollow of some old enormous tree. 

 The disposition of this animal is most surly and rapacious, and his 

 mischievousness has passed into a proverb. His appearance cor- 

 responds with his temper : his coat is rugged, his limbs strong and 

 thick, and his countenance, covered with a dark and sullen scowl, 

 indicates the settled moroseness of his disposition. The sacred 

 writers frequently associate this formidable enemy with the king of 

 the forest, as being equally dangerous and destructive. Thus, 

 Amos, setting before his incorrigible countrymen the succession of 

 calamities which, under the just judgment of God, was about to 

 befal them, declares that the removal of one would but leave anoth- 

 er equally grievous : ' Wo unto you that desire the day of the 



