TOWARDS CAPE SOUTH-WEST. 



363 



but it is certainly a cold one in some thirty-eight degrees below 

 zero. They were quick workers, however, who knew how to use 

 their knives, and in the course of a few minutes they had skinned 

 the bear and begun to cut it up. The meat was chopped into 

 rations of suitable size and laid out to freeze. 



We fed the dogs on the meat and offal till they could eat no more ; 

 and we also offered them the liver, but not one of them would touch 

 it. Both before and since I have tried giving dogs bear's liver, but 



ISACHSEX AS DISSECTOR. 



they must be excessively hungry before they will eat it. It 

 is a common belief that the liver of j the bear is poisonous to 

 both people and dogs ; but I do not think it is anything of the 

 kind. I have myself eaten it many times without feeling any 

 disagreeable consequences, and I have seen dogs eat it when 

 they have been very sharp-set ; while I have also come across 

 dogs which have no great dislike to it, especially when it is frozen. 

 I have never found it in the least unpalatable when care has 

 been taken to remove the gall-bag as quickly as possible ; in fact, 

 it tastes just like ordinary liver. We cut some steaks which we 

 laid aside as a delicacy for supper, and the heart, of course, was 

 not forgotten. 



