T H E B E A R. 137 



abroad; not entirely deprived of fenfation. Seems to fubfifi: on the 

 exuberance of its Tormer fat, and only feels the calls of appetite, when 

 vqat it Hal acquired in fuinmer is walled. When the bear retires to 

 its den for the winter, it is extremely fat; but at the e^id of forty or fifty 

 days, when it co nes forth to feek frefli nourilhmenr, it feetr.s to have flepc 

 away ail its flefh. Couples in autumn ; time of geftation unknown : 

 the female takes great care to provide a proper retreat for her young, in 

 the hollow of a rock; where fhe provides a bed of hay. Brings forth m 

 winter; the young begin to follow her in fpring. 



The voice of the bear is a kind of grow], interrupted with rage, often 

 capricious. Capable of fome degree of inftruftion : can dance in awk- 

 ward meafures on its hind feet, to the voice or to the inftrument of its 

 leader; and is often the bed performer of the two. When come to ma- 

 turity, can never be tamed. The lead dangerous method of taking ic is 

 by intoxicating it, by throwing brandy upon honey, of which it is very 

 fond. In Canada, they are taken by fetting fire to their retreats, which 

 are often thirty feet from the ground. The old one generally firfl: ifTues 

 from her den, and is Ihot by the hunters. The young ones, as they 

 defcend, are caught in a noofe. Their hams, and efpecially their paws, 

 are faid to be a great delicacy. 



The white Greenland bear, though it prefcrves the general external 

 form of its fouthern kindred, grows to ab>ve three times their fize. The 

 brown bear is feldom above fix feet long; the white bear often from 

 twelve to thirteen. The brown bear is made ftrong and fturdy; the 

 Greenland bear, though covered with very long hair, is flender; the 

 head, neck, and body, more inclining to the fhape of the greyhound. 

 Seems the only animal, that in the coldeft climate grows larger thari 

 thofe of its kind in the temperate zones. Comedown to view our failors 

 on their fhores with an awkward curiofity; approach flowly, as if un- 

 determined. When ihot at, or wounded, endeavour to fly ; finding that 

 impradlicable, make a fierce and dcfperate refiftance. 



The number of thefe animals about the north pole, is amazing. 

 They are not only feen at land, but often on ice floats, feveral leacrues 

 at fea; and are tranfporred in this manner to the very fhores of Iceland, 

 where the natives are in arms to receive them. It oftqn happens, when 

 a Greenlandcr and his wife are out at fea, by coming too near an ice-float, 

 a while bear unexpedediy jumps into their boat, and, if he does noc 

 overfct it, fits calmly where he firft came down, aad likt a paflengec 



fufters himfelf to be rowed along. 



Lives 



