COMMON BEAR. 451 



Ion, &c.* It inhabits woods and unfrequented 

 places, and feeds chiefly on roots, fruits, and 

 other vegetable substances, but occasionally preys 

 on animals. In the Alpine regions the Bear is 

 brown ; in some other parts of Europe, black ; and 

 in some parts of Norway has been seen of a grey- 

 colour, and even perfectly white: this latter 

 change of colour sometimes takes place, as is well 

 known, in several other animals, and most fre- 

 quently in such as are naturally black or of very 

 dark colours. The brown, the black, the grey, 

 and the white land Bears are, therefore, to be 

 considered as of the same species : yet it is observed 

 that the brown and the black variety differ some- 

 what in their manner of life; the black confining 

 itself almost entirely to vegetable food; the 

 brown, on the contrary, frequently attacking and 

 preying upon other animals, and destroying lambs, 

 kids, and even sometimes cattle, and sucking the 

 blood in the manner of the Cat and Weesel 

 tribes. Linnaeus adds, that the Bear has a way 

 of blowing up his prey, and of hiding or burying 

 a part of it. Bears are reported to be particu- 

 larly fond of honey, in search of which they will 

 climb trees, in order to get at the nests of wild 

 bees ; for the Bear, notwithstanding his awkward 

 form, is expert in climbing, and sometimes takes 

 up his residence in the hollow of a very large 



* The brown Bear is also said to be found in some of the north- 

 ern parts of America, where it destroys cattle. The American 

 Black Bear is a different species, and is not carnivorous. 



