XIX 



THE POLAR-BEAR 



FEW sportsmen have killed a polar-bear. As the 

 name indicates, this bear is an Arctic animal, and 

 our information concerning its habits and pursuit is 

 chiefly derived from Arctic explorers, from trappers, 

 and whalers. 



The great polar-bear is easily distinguished from all 

 other bears by its color, which is silvery white ; it 

 differs in form also from other bears, and has a very 

 long neck, which is useful in hunting the seals and fish 

 which this bear eats and which constitute a large part 

 of its food ; it has also fur on its feet to prevent its slip- 

 ping on the ice ; the facial angle is almost a straight 

 line ; its claws are black. 



The polar-bear can move rapidly on land or on ice, 

 and swims very fast and dives to catch the passing 

 salmon. It is said to swim toward the seals on the ice 

 like a submarine boat, occasionally putting up the tip 

 of its nose for air. If the seal takes to the water or re- 

 treats on land it is easily captured by its amphibious 

 enemy. The white-bear is said to be an affectionate 

 beast, and many pretty stories have been written about 

 mother-bears and their cubs. 



One of the earliest accounts of the polar-bear gives 

 us a good idea of its aquatic nature. In Jacques Car- 



278 



