THE BEAR. IS 



the black bear of America rejects animal food ; out of the contrary 

 I am certain, as I have often seen the young ones, which are brought 

 over to London, prefer flesh to every kind of vegetable aliment. 



The BROWN BEAR is properly an inhabitant of the temperate ch 

 mates ; the black finds subsistence in the northern regions of Europe 

 and America ; while the great white bear takes refuge in the most 

 icy climates, and lives where scarcely any other animal can find 

 subsistence. 



The brown bear* is not only savage but solitary ; he takes refuge in 

 the most unfrequented parts, and the most dangerous precipices of 

 uninhabited mountains. It chooses its den in the most gloomy parts 

 of the forest, in some cavern that has been hollowed by time, or in 

 the hollow of some old enormous tree. There it retires alone, and 

 passes some months of the winter without provisions, or without ever 

 stirring abroad. However, this animal is not entirely deprived of 

 sensation, like the bat or the dormouse, but seems rather to subsist 

 upon the exuberance of its former flesh, and only feels the calls of 

 appetite, when the fat it had acquired in summer begins to be entirely 

 wasted away. In this manner, when the bear retires to its den, to 

 hide for the winter, it is extremely fat ; but at the end of forty or 

 fifty days, when it comes forth to seek for fresh nourishment, it seems 

 to have slept all its flesh away. It is a common report, that during 

 this time they live by sucking their paws, which is a vulgar error that 

 scarcely requires confutation. These solitary animals couple in au- 

 tumn, but the time of gestation with the female is still unknown ; the 

 female takes great care to provide a proper retreat for her young ; she 

 secures them in the hollow of a rock, and provides a bed of hay in 

 the warmest part of her den ; she brings forth in winter, and the 

 young ones begin to follow her in spring. The male and female by 

 no means inhabit the same den ; they have each their separate re- 

 treat, and seldom are seen together but upon the accesses of genial 

 desire. 



The voice of the bear is a kind of growl, interrupted with rage, 

 which is often capriciously exerted ; and though this animal seems 

 gentle and placid to its master, when tamed, yet it is still to be dis- 

 trusted and managed with caution, as it is often treacherous and re- 

 sentful without a cause. 



This animal is capable of some degree of instruction. There are 

 few but have seen it dance in awkward measures upon its hind feet, 

 to the voice or the instrument of its leader ; and it must be confessed 

 that the dancer is often found to be the best performer of the two. I 

 am told, that it is first taught to perform in this manner, by setting it 

 upon hot plates of iron, and then playing to it, while in this uneasy 

 tituation. 



The bear, when come to maturity, can never be tamed ; it then 

 continues in its native fierceness, and, though caged, atiL lormidably 

 impotent, at the approach of its keeper, flies to meet him. But not- 

 withstanding the fierceness of this animal, the natives, in those conn 

 tries where it is found, hunt it with great perseverance and alacrity 



VOL. III. 



