196 



BEARS AND KANGAROOS. 



the ends of the feet, is whitish or yellowish. He is fond of fruits, honey and white 

 ants, and in captivity is mild and melancholy." 



"The polar bear seems to be able to stand warm weather as well as cold, 1 * 

 remarked Dick, " for I know Mr. Barnum has hardly ever been without one in his 

 show, which does most of its business during warm weather." 



[As a proof of the ability of the polar bear to undergo high temperature, I may 

 add that " Dick," still alive and many years old, was the only bear that survived 

 the great fire at Bridgeport, in November, 1887.] 



"Mr. Godkin," said Bob Marshall, "how long have you been in the employ of 

 the menageries? " 



BLACK BEAR. 



"It's a long time," he answered, "dating away back from before either of you 

 were born. It so happened that I landed in India just previous to the breaking 

 but of the great Sepoy mutiny of '57." 



" Were you there through that war ? " asked Dick. 



"Through a good deal of it, and I had one of the strangest adventures that ever 

 befell a person. I won't tell you about it this evening," he added, observing the 

 expectant looks of his friends, "but some time I'll give you the story." 



" You have been in Africa before ? " 



" Yes, I made a visit to Bechuana Land some years since, and I spent one season 

 in Australia- " 



