NOTE-BOOK OF A NATUKALIST. 379 



escaped from the old temporary Carnivora-house, near 

 the spot where the Dromedary-house now stands, and 

 was ogling some antelopes and deer in the adjoining close, 

 with no amorous intentions, — came up with the bear. 

 Him he treated differently from the lion, whom he seized 

 by the mane, and led back to his den ; but the bear, hav- 

 ing no mane, Cocksedge tackled ' The Polar,' as he is 

 called in some of the Fair bills, in a different way. The 

 brave keeper advanced with a strong rope, which had a 

 running noose, and threw it over the monster's neck; 

 and then he pulled, and the bear pulled, till the rope 

 broke. Bruin quietly lifted his arm, and, with his fore- 

 paw, disembarrassed himself of the noose. Cocksedge, 

 nothing daunted, caught him with another rope, and a 

 struggle ensued, the infuriated beast biting the rope till 

 he got free, and walking on, followed by a detachment 

 of keepers, who managed, by heading him at proper in- 

 tervals, and showing a bold front, to keep him out of the 

 park. While they were trying to prevent this, he made 

 a desperate, but, luckily, ineffectual rush at one of the 

 men. At last, by dint of marches and counter-marches, 

 they so managed their tactics, that they drove him gra- 

 dually up to the door of a den which stood invitingly 

 open, and in he went and was secured; not, however, 

 without dashing with all his weight and strength at the 

 gate of his new prison. This escape led to an immediate 

 order for caging the whole of the white bear yard over- 

 head with iron, where Bruin is again domiciled with his 

 partner, a reconciliation having taken place; and now, 

 with the exception of an occasional squabble, not un- 

 common in such cases, they get on very well together. 



But we must return to the reptile-house, and, like the 

 witch of Ben-y-gloe, finish our snakes.* 



* Those who have not had the pleasure of reading Mr. Scrope's 

 stirring book on Deer-stalking had better possess themselves of it 



