ALASKAN BEAE. 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 



