i2 A HISTORY OF 



likewise, when any food or drink was brought to it; and was so 

 easily offended with smells, or so cautious, that it would not taste the 

 bread which was offered, when the hand happened to smell strong of 

 turpentine. Its manner of fighting is very particular. It was ob- 

 served at Lord Olive's, where two males were put into a little inclo- 

 sure, that, while they were at a considerable distance from earh 

 other, they prepared for the attack, by falling upon their fore-knees, 

 then they shuffled toward each other with a quick pace, keeping still 

 upon their fore-knees ; and when they were come within some yards, 

 they made a spring, and darted against each other. The intrepidity 

 and force with which they dart against any object, appeared by the 

 strength with which one of them attempted to overturn a poor la- 

 bourer, who unthinkingly stood on the outside of the pales of its in- 

 closure. The nyl-ghau, with the quickness of lightning, darted against 

 the wood-work with such violence, that he broke it to pieces, and 

 broke off one of his horns close to the root, which occasioned the 

 animal's death. At all the places in India, where we have settlements, 

 they are considered as rarities, and brought from the distant interior 

 parts of the country. The Emperor sometimes kills them jn such 

 numbers, as to distribute quarters of them to all his omrahs, which 

 shows that they are internally wild and in plenty, and esteemed good 

 and delicious food. The nyl-ghaus, which have been brought to 

 England, have been most, if not all of them, received from Surat or 

 Bombay, and they seem to be less uncommon in that part of India, 

 than in Bengal, which gives room for a conjecture that they may be 

 indigenous perhaps in the province of Guzarat, one of the most western 

 and most considerable of the Hindostan empire, lying to the north- 

 ward of Surat, and stretching away to the Indian ocean. 



CHAPTER IX. 



THE BEAR.* 



Or the Bear there are three kinds, the Brown Bear of the Alps, 

 U5 Black Bear of North America, which is smaller, and the great 

 Greenland or White Bear. These, though different in their forms, 

 nre no doubt of the same original, and owe their chief variations to 

 lood and climate. They have all the same habitudes, being equally 

 carnivorous, treacherous, and cruel. It has been said, indeed, that 



The animals of this kind, including the Racoon, Wolverene, Glutton, and Badeer 



s six front teeth in each jaw ; the two lateral ones of the lower jaw are longer than 



rest, and lobcd, and are likewise furnished with smaller or secondary teeth at their in- 



nal bases: the canine teeth are single ; there are five or six grinders on each side; the 



of which I. placed close to the canine teeth ; the tongue is smooth , the snout pro- 



d the eyes furnished with a nictitant or winking membrane. The soles of th 



e 01,5 and extended to the heel ; nine use their fore paws as hands, and they are 



le to climb trees in search of prey, or to avoid an enemy 



