THE STORY OP THE BEAR. 



51 



but now the walrus-hunters do not hesitate to attack with a lance consider- 

 able numbers of bears. It is only occasionally that a Polar bear will attack 

 first. The pure white ones from the largest to the smallest are timid. The 

 most dangerous, other than females with cubs, is a large-sized male bear of 

 a yellowish, dirty color. Another sort is the small-sized bear, neither white 

 nor yellow, but rather dirty-looking. These are the best runners. 



Unlike the others, the Polar bear does not attempt to hug, but bites. 



POLAR BEARS ON ICE FLOE. 



There are many instances of men, who while watching or skinning seals, 

 have had its rough paws laid on their shoulders. Their only chance then has 

 been to feign being dead, and manage to shoot it while the bear was sitting at 

 a distance watching its intended victim. 



The pace of a Polar bear is rapid and they have been known to overtake 

 Esquimaux and other Indians in a fair chase. Their fleetness depends, how- 

 ever, largely upon their condition at the time, the thinner they are the 



