42 ANECDOTES OF ANIMALS, 



to their nourishment. The story that they live by suck- 

 ing their paws is, as may be supposed, a fable ; when 

 well-fed they always lick their paws, very often accom- 

 panying the action with a peculiar sort of mumbling 

 noise. There are a few which will never eat flesh, and 

 all are able to do without it. They are, generally 

 speaking, large, clumsy, and awkward, possessing largo 

 claws for digging ; and often walk on their hind-feet, 

 a facility afforded them by the peculiar formation of 

 their thigh-bone. They do not often attack in the first 

 instance, unless impelled by hunger or danger; they 

 are, however, formidable opponents when excited. In 

 former times there were few parts of the globe in which 

 they were not to be found; but like other wild animals, 

 they have disappeared before the advance of man. Still 

 they are found in certain spots, from the northern regions 

 of the world to the burning climes of Africa, Asia, 

 and America. The latest date of their appearance in 

 Great Britain, was in Scotland, during the year 1057. 



Bears are always covered with thick fur; which, 

 notwithstanding its coarseness, is much prized for 

 various purposes. They afford much sport to those 

 inclined for such exercises ; but the cruel practice of 

 boar-baiting is discontinued. In an old edition of 

 Ihulibras, there is a curious note of a mode of running 

 at the devoted bears with wheelbarrows, on which they 

 vented their fury, and the baiters thus had them at 

 their mercy. At present the hunts are regularly 

 organized fights or battues ; besides which there are 

 many ways of catching them in traps, pitfalls, etc. 



The large Polar Bear (Ursus Maritimus), with its 

 white fur, its long flattened head, and black claws, may 

 be seen in great perfection at the Zoological Gardens. 



