NATURAL HISTORY. 269 



The wild bear turns not from his path, nor offers 

 to shun the sight of man. It is said, however, by a 

 certain whistle he may be so far charmed as to stop, 

 and stand upon his hind feet : this is the time to shoot 

 him ; for, when only wounded in an attack, he darts 

 with fury at his foe, and, clasping him with his fore 

 paws, is sure to stifle him, unless immediate assistance 

 be given. 



The bear enjoys the senses of seeing, hearing, and 

 feeling, in great perfection ; and yet, compared with 

 the size of his body, his eyes are very small. His 

 ears are also short, his skin is coarse, and his hair very 

 thick. His smell is exquisite ; more so, perhaps, than 

 that of any other animal, the internal surface of his 

 nose being very extensive, and excellently calculated 

 to receive the impression of smells. He strikes with 

 his paw as a man strikes with his fists"; but in what- 

 ever he may bear a rude kind of resemblance to the 

 human species, he does not gain by this the least 

 ascendency over other animals. 



