82 CARNIVORA. 



only be worn by one who has destroyed this bear, is an orna- 

 ment that entitles the wearer to distinguished honor. In Califor- 

 nia it keeps among the oaks and pines, on the acorns and seeds 

 of which it feeds. It is strong enough to overcome and carry 

 off a Buffalo. 



U. Americanus. The AMERICAN BLACK BEAR is smaller than 

 the Grizzly bear, and of a more clumsy appearance. It feeds 

 upon berries, succulent roots, and juicy plants. When in 

 swamps, it wallows in the mud like a hog, living on cray fish, 

 roots, and nettles ; sometimes it seizes on a pig, or sheep, or calf, 

 or even a full grown cow. In robbing bee trees it is peculiarly 

 expert. The young are at first not larger than kittens. The 

 Cinnamon Bear, which is a permanent variety of this species, is 

 quite a northern animal, and its fur is more valuable than that 

 of the black bear. 



Ursus maritimus, (Lat. belonging to the sea.) or thalarctos, 

 (Gr. Oakaaaa, tJialassa, the sea, agxiog, arktos, a bear.) The 

 POLAR BEAR. 



This formidable species of bear has a long and narrow head, 

 prolonged in a straight line with the forehead, which is flattened ; 

 a long neck, and long, soft hair or fur, of considerable value. 

 Its average length, when full grown, is from six to seven feet. Capt. 

 Ross brought back a specimen measuring seven feet ten inches, 

 and the weight of which, after losing thirty pounds of blood, 

 was 1131 Ibs. Another specimen, described by Capt. Lyon, 

 measured eight feet seven and a half inches, and weighed 1600 

 Ibs. The Polar Bear is entirely white, except the tip of the 

 nose and claws, which are jet black. Dr. Kane, in his "Arctic 

 Explorations," remarks that this animal is, " next to the Walrus, 

 the staple diet to the North ; and excepting the Fox, supplies the 

 most important element of the wardrobe." " The liver of the 

 animal," he says, " is, for some reason, poisonous, though eaten 

 with impunity by the dogs." 



The chief diet of the Polar Bear is obtained from the floating 

 carcasses of whales and fishes, which often carry him, as a swim- 

 mer, far away from the shore. He also makes unceasing war upon 

 the seals and walruses, and neither refuses the animal exuviee 

 which the waters cast upon the land, nor the few berries afforded 

 by the shrubs of an arctic climate. On the land, these animals 

 prey upon hares, young birds, etc. Their lodges are dens 

 formed in layers of ice which are piled up so as to make stupen- 

 dous masses. The males are said not to hybernate, but to brave 

 the severity of the winter upon the ice of the open sea, wander- 

 ing along the margin and swimming from floe to floe in search 



