Crcagurg of Natural 



MARITTMUS.) 



locks like the mole. In some districts these 

 are so very numerous, as to render it dan- 

 gerous to pass over them on horseback, the 

 earth where excavated often suddenly giving 

 way. The Coast Bat is about a foot long, 

 exclusive of the tail, which is three inches ; 

 and its general colour is greyish ash. The 

 incisors are of an enormous size ; those in 

 the upper jaw having a longitudinal furrow 

 down the front. The whole form and orga- 



with success, although the chase may be 

 continued for two or three hours. There 

 are several kinds of Beagles ; as, the Southern 

 Beagle, the fleet Northern or Cat Beagle, and 

 a very diminutive one called the Lap-dog 

 Beagle. 



BEAR. ( ITJ-SMS.) A well-known quadru- 

 ped, belonging to a family of plantigrades, 

 distinguished by their ponderous bulk, mas- 

 sive limbs, and heavy gait. There are se- 

 veral species of Bears. Of all the Carnivora 

 they are the most omnivorous in their diet, 

 some of them living almost entirely upon 

 vegetable food, and nearly all being capable 

 of supporting themselves upon it : even the 

 most carnivorous of them, however, will 

 seldom attack man, unless provoked to do 

 so by aggression, or strongly incited by 

 hunger ; but when attacked they prove 

 themselves very formidable opponents. They 

 have six incisor and two canine teeth in 

 each jaw, twelve molars in the upper and 



nization of this animal fit it for an under- fourteen in the lower jaw ; pendactyle or 

 ground existence ; it is accordingly often j five-toed feet, armed with strong claws, but 

 called the Sand Mole. which, not being retractile, are more cal- 



"R 4 TT? A rTTOTTVF 1 7F 1 A familv of mon- culated for digging and climbing than for 

 rtS^^^fau,P^L 5K : tearing prey. ^oAhe most part Bears are 

 whose pectoral fins are supported upon the ; unsocial animals, frequenting _the rece 



wose pecora ns ar s ; 



elongated carpal bones which in some genera of mountains and caverns, and the depths 



perform the functions of hind feet, enabling of the forests. During the winter hey lay 



destitute of scales, but i 



uesmuu; m ^ca, u u , sometimes studded i Bear is brown; in some other parts of Eu- 

 with bony tubercles. The skeleton is, for ; rope, black , and m some parts of Norway it 

 the most part, but imperfectly osseous. Some j ha !.been seen of a grey colour and even 

 genera have an air-bladder, and some have perfectly white. Bears are reported to be 

 norVroc;^ has a spiny'operculum .and ^^^^^^^^^J^ *% 



. 



suboperculum, and a flat head broader than 

 the body, but not very disproportionate in 

 length. Lophius has a depressed form, and 



will climb trees, in order to get at the nests 

 of wild bees ; for, notwithstanding his awk- 

 ward form, the Bear is an expert climber. 



compressed one, and both have j In Russia the skins of Bears are among the 

 monstrously lar^e heads, with a small hole most useful as well as comfortable articles 

 behind the pectorals for an opening to the of winter apparel , and m many other 

 gills" In Malthe the head is flat, and greatly northern countries they are made into beds, 

 kngthened laterally by the projection of the coverlids, caps, and gloves. In England 

 large subopercula. The BatrachoideiB can bears' skins are used for the hammer-cloths 

 fvf Ion- out of the water, in consequence of ] of carriages, for pistol holsters, &c.; and the 

 the smallness of their gill-openings. The leather prepared from them is used for many 

 CMroneetes, in particular, are able%ven in ! purposes, as harness, &c., where strength is 

 warm countries, to pass two or three days in j requisite. 



creeping over the land. All the Batraehoideae | The COMMON or BROWN BEAR. ( Ur- 

 conceal themselves in the mud or sand, and i sus Arctos.) This species, with some varia- 

 lie in wait to take their prey by surprise. | t ion as to size and colour, is a native of al- 

 They exist in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pa- j most a n t h e northern parts of Europe and 

 cific oceans ; and several also inhabit the ; Asia. Its usual size is about four feet in 

 European seas. length, by about two feet and a half in 



TJATRAOTTTANS-BATRACHIA Fro^s 'height. In its nature it is savage and soli- 

 l5U^S^S^^^ t& ' tary ; and though when tamed it appears 

 have soft and naked skins (i. e. uncovered ! g ent } e and P lacld to ! ts owner > ^ sh ould be 



with scales), and in the early stage of ex- 

 istpnpp rpnirp hv mpins of wills 



BEAGLE. A small kind of hotind, or 

 hunting-dog, formerly much prized for its 



. , 



cautiously managed, being often capricious 

 treacherous, and vindictive. Its retreat, 

 during the period of hibernation, is the 

 natural hollow of a tree, or some cavern ; 

 but where these are not conveniently found, 



xcellent scent and persevering endurance | it will either form a suitable den for itself 

 when employed in hare-hunting. It cannot | by digging, or construct a rude kind of hut 

 indeed boast of great speed ; but its " slow with branches of trees, lined with moss. 

 and sure " qualities are generally rewarded j Thus protected, and fat with its summer 



