ALASKAN BEAR. 151 



him and his habits; for men of science and 

 writers of books are not bear-hunters, as 

 a rule, and so real information about this 

 white robber-monk of the cold, blue north 

 is meager indeed. But here is what the 

 most eminent English authority says about 

 the nature and habits of this one bear that 

 I have not shaken hands with, or encoun 

 tered in some sort of way on his native 

 heath: 



"The great white bear of the Arctic re 

 gions the 'Nennok' of the Eskimo is the 

 largest as well as one of the best known 

 of the whole family. It is a gigantic ani 

 mal, often attaining a length of nearly nine 

 feet and is proportionally strong and fierce. 

 It is found over the whole of Greenland; 

 but its numbers seem to be on the decrease. 

 It is distinguished from other bears by its 

 narrow head, its flat forehead in a line with 

 its prolonged muzzle, its short ears and 

 long neck. It is of a light, creamy color, 

 rarely pure white, except when young, 

 hence the Scottish whalers call it the 



