THE BROWN BEAR. 113 



Bear is singularly adroit, warding off the fiercest strokes with a dex- 

 terity that might be envied by many a pretender to the pugilistic 

 art. 



Several species of Bears are now recognized by systematic natural- 

 ists, the principal examples of which will be noticed in the following 

 pages. 



The Bear which is most popularly known in this country is the 

 Brown Bear, a creature which is found rather plentifully in for- 

 ests and the mountainous districts of many portions of Europe and 

 Asia. As may be supposed from its title, the color of its fur is brown, 

 slightly variable in tint in different individuals, and often in the same 

 individual at various ages. If captured when young, the Brown 

 Bear is readily tamed and is capable of mastering many accomplish- 

 ments. 



The size to which a well-fed and undisturbed Brown Bear will grow 

 is really surprising, for, although it loses its growing properties after its 

 twentieth year, it seems permanently to retain the capability of enlarge- 

 ment, and when in a favorable situation will live to a very great age. 

 The weight of an adult Brown Bear in good condition is very great, 

 being sometimes from seven to eight hundred pounds when the crea- 

 ture is remarkably fine, and from five to six hundred pounds in ordi- 

 nary cases. Mr. Falk remarks that a Bear which he killed was so 

 enorinously heavy that when slung on a pole it was a weighty burden 

 for ten bearers. 



Ants form a favorite article of diet with a Bear, which scrapes their 

 nests out of the earth with its powerful talons, and laps up the ants and 

 their so-called " eggs " with its ready tongue. Bees and their sweet 

 produce are greatly to the taste of the Bear, which is said to make 

 occasional raids upon the beehives, and to plunder their contents. 



Vegetablas of various kinds are also eaten by the Bear, and in the 

 selection of thess dainties the animal evinces considerable taste. Ac- 

 cording to Mr. Llo/d, " the Bear feeds on roots, and the leaves and 

 small limbs of the aspen, mountain-ash, and other trees; he is also 

 fond of succulent plants, such as angelica, mountain-thistle, etc. To 

 berries he is likewise very partial, and during the autumnal months, 

 when they are ripe, he devours vast quantities of cranberries, blueber- 

 ries, raspberries, strawberries, cloudberries, and other berries common 

 to the Scandinavian forests. Kipe corn he also eats, and sometimes 

 commits no small havoc amongst it; for, seating himself, as it is said, 

 on his haunches in a field of it, he collects with his outstretched arms 

 nearly a sheaf at a time, the ears of which he then devours." 



During the autumn the Bear becomes extremely fat, in consequence 

 of the ample feasts which it is able to enjoy, and makes its preparations 

 for passing the cold and inhospitable months of winter. About the end 



10* H " 



