BEAR AND BURGLARS. 267 



reared from a cub, now in the Zoological Gardens, Regent's 

 Park, and which I take to be by far the finest example 

 of the species ever seen in this country. With me their 

 food consisted chiefly of oatmeal, with perhaps a dash of 

 milk, but they would eat almost anything ; and singularly 

 enough, would greedily devour large quantities of duckweed 

 (Lemna). Of fish they were particularly fond, as also of 

 flesh. One winter, indeed, the large bears mentioned, 

 devoured the carcases of not a few horses. 



But though tame bears serve chiefly to amuse, it is on 

 record that they at times answer useful purposes. 



" One evening," such was the substance of a relation that 

 two or three years ago went the rounds of the Finnish news- 

 papers, and which there is reason to believe was in the main 

 authentic, " a bear leader presented himself at the house of a 

 widow well to do in the world, in the more southern part of 

 Finland, and requested quarters for himself and his protege 

 for the night. His petition was granted, and after both had duly 

 refreshed themselves, the man, as well as the beast, lay down 

 to rest. About midnight, however, the widow was awakened 

 from her slumbers by a strange noise in a distant chamber, 

 which she soon ascertained to proceed from two burglars who 

 had forced an entrance, and who were busily occupied in 

 rifling the place of the more valuable of its contents. She 

 was terribly alarmed, and forthwith ran to the room occupied 

 by the bear leader to solicit counsel and assistance. " That 

 matter can soon be set to rights," replied he, " provided you 

 supply me with a pint of brandy." This request was soon 

 complied with; and as soon as the man was possessed of 

 the liquor, he gave it the bear, who was not altogether 

 unaccustomed to similar strengthening draughts. Shortly 



