nU.VTINTQ THE POLAR BEAR. 103 



approach. They proved to be a she-bear and her two cubs ; 

 but the cubs were nearly as large as the dam. They ran eagerly 

 iO the fire, and drew out from the flames part of the flesh of the 

 pea-horse, which remained unconsurned, and ate it voraciously. 

 The crew from the ship threw great pieces of the flesh, which 

 they had still left, upon the ice, which the old bear carried away 

 singly, laid every piece before her cubs, and dividing them, gave 

 each a share, reserving but a small portion for herself. As she 

 was carrying away the last piece, they levelled their muskets at 

 the cubs, and shot them both dead : and in her retreat, they 

 wounded the dam, but not mortally. 



" It would have drawn tears of pity from any but unfeeling 

 minds, to have marked the affectionate concern manifested by this 

 poor beast, in the last moments of her expiring young. Though 

 she was sorely wounded, and could but just crawl to the place 

 where they lay, she carried the lump of flesh she had fetched 

 away, as she had done the others before, tore it in pieces, and 

 laid it down before them ; and when she saw that they refused to 

 eat, she laid her paws first upon one, and then upon the other, 

 and endeavored to raise them up. All this while it was piteous 

 to hear her moan. When she found she could not stir them, she 

 went ofF, and when at some distance, looked back and moaned ; 

 and that not availing to entice them away, she returned, and 

 smelling around them, began to lick their wounds. She went 

 off a second time as before ; and having crawled a few paces 

 looked again behind her, and for some time stood moaning. But, 

 still her cubs not rising to follow her, she returned to them again, 

 and with signs of inexpressible fondness went round first one and 

 then the other, pawing them, and moaning. Finding at last that 

 they were cold and lifeless, she raised her head towards the ship, 

 and growled her resentment at the murderers ; which they re- 

 turned with a volley ot musket balls. She fell between her 

 cubs, and died licking their wounds." 



Many other instances might be quoted, illustrative of the 

 cnaracter of these singular animals. animals which are perhaps 

 more characteristic of those dismal regions to which they are 



