THE BEAR. 25 



Col. Thornton, in his " Sporting Tour through the 

 Northern parts of England and the Highlands of 

 Scotland " (1804), states that on the island of Inch- 

 merin, which is the largest island in Loch Lomond, 

 being nearly two miles in circumference, beautifully 

 Avooded and well stocked with deer, Lord Graham 

 had turned out a few wild Bears. Whether this is a 

 misprint for Boars, we have no means of knowing, but 

 from the employment of the adjective "wild," this is 

 probable, or he may have been misled by the Scottish 

 pronunciation referred to by Jamieson. 



When native Bears no longer existed, our ancestors 

 imported foreign ones for a purpose that does no 

 credit to the manners and customs of the times. 



BEAK-BAITING. PROM A CARVED SEAT OF THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY, 

 IN GLOUCESTER CATHEDRAL. 



" Bear-baiting" in all its cruelty was a favourite 

 pastime with our forefathers. 



Fitz-Stephen, who lived in the reign of Henry II., 

 tells us that in the forenoon of every holiday during 

 the winter season the young Londoners were amused 

 with Boars opposed to each other in battle, or with 

 Bulls and full-grown Bears baited by dogs. There 

 were several places in the vicinity of the metropolis 

 set apart for the baiting of beasts, and especially the 



