THE POLAR BEAR. 



117 



passing its existence among the ice-mountains of the northern re- 

 gions. 



So active is this Bear, and so admirable are its powers of aquatic 

 locomotion, that it has been known to plunge into the water in chase 

 of a salmon, and to return to the surface with the captured fish in its 

 mouth. And when it is engaged in the pursuit of seals, as they are 

 sleeping on a rock or an ice-raft, it is said to employ a very ingenious 

 mode of approach. Marking the position in which its intended prey 

 lies, it quietly slips into the water, and, diving below the surface, swims 

 in the intended direction until it is forced to return to the surface in 

 order to breathe. As soon as it has filled its lungs with fresh air it 

 again submerges it- 

 self and resumes its 

 course, timing its 

 submarine journeys 

 so well that when it 

 ascends to the surface 

 for the last time it is 

 in close proximity to 

 the slumbering seal. 

 The fate of the un- 

 fortunate victim is 

 now settled, for it 

 cannot take refuge 

 in the water with- 

 out falling into the 

 clutches of its pur- ^"^^ Polar Bear {Thalfrrdos maritimus). 



suer, and if it' endeavors to escape by land it is speedily overtaken 

 and destroyed by the swifter-footed Bear. 



So powerful an animal as the Polar Bear must necessarily be very 

 dangerous when considered in the light of a foe. Sometimes it runs 

 away as soon as it sees or smells a human being, but at others it is 

 extremely malicious, and will attack a man without any apparent 

 reason. As is the case with nearly all the Bears, it is very tenacious 

 of life, and even when pierced with many wounds will fight in the 

 most desperate manner, employing both teeth and claws in the combat, 

 and only yielding the struggle with its life. 



The color of the Neunook's fur is a silvery white, tinged with a slight 

 yellow hue, rather variable in diflTerent individuals. Even in specimens 

 that were confined in the Zoological Gardens there was a perceptible 

 difference in the tint of their fur, the coat of one of them being of a 

 purer white than that of the other. The yellowish tinge which has 

 just been mentioned is very similar to the creamy yellow hue which 

 edges the ermine's fur. The feet are armed with strong claws of no 



