THE POLAE BEAR. 243 



perate in self-defense, but it is seldom that 

 they become the aggressor. The brain of 

 the bear is very highly developed, and they 

 soon learn all kinds of accomplishments. 

 The lion is an uncouth boor in comparison. 

 The Polar Bear, Thalassarctos Mariti- 

 mus, is the only representative of the ge 

 nus. He is an almost wholly carnivorous 

 animal, his food consisting of fishes and 

 seals, which he skillfully captures. He can 

 swim better than any other bear, and has 

 been known to swim a strait forty miles 

 wide. The fur is silver white tinged with 

 yellow. This color is variable in specimens, 

 aad according to the seasons. The head is 

 much smaller than that of the grizzly or 

 black bear, and is ferret-like, with a decided 

 downward curve to the nose. The nose 

 does not possess the flexibility of that of 

 the rest of the bear family, although the 

 polar bear has the higher development of 

 the sense of smell. Johnson says that the 

 flesh is good to eat, but other writers do 

 net agree with him. Kane was poisoned by 



