THE BROWN BEAR. 17 



seek impenetrable retreats in which to bring forth their 

 young ; and, though numbers of bears are annually killed 

 during winter, they are generally found to be males. 

 After becoming pretty fat in autumn, these animals retire 

 to their dens, and continue six or seven weeks in total 

 inactivity and abstinence from food. 



The flesh of the young Bear is reckoned a great delicacy, 

 and the paws of an old one are esteemed an exquisite 

 morsel. The fat is white, and very sweet ; and the oil is 

 said to be of great use in softening swellings proceeding 

 from sprains. 



THE BROWN BEAR 



Is a savage and solitary animal, lives in desert and unfre- 

 quented places, and chooses its den in the most dangerous 

 and inaccessible precipices of unfrequented mountains. It 

 retires alone to its den about the end of autumn, (at which 

 time it is exceedingly fat) and lives for several weeks 

 in a state of total inactivity and abstinence from food. 



In the spring, the old Bears, attended by their young, 

 come out from their retreats, lean, and almost famished 

 by their long confinement. They then ransack every quarter 

 in search of food. They frequently climb trees, and devour 

 the fruit in great quantities, particularly the date-plum 

 tree, of which they are exceedingly fond. They ascend 

 these trees with surprising agility, keep themselves firm on 

 the branches with the hinder paws, and with the other 

 collect the fruit. 



The bear is remarkably fond of honey, which it will 

 encounter great difficulties to obtain, and seek for with 

 great cunning and avidity. 



It enjoys, in a superior degree, the senses of hearing, 

 smelling, and touching.- Its ears are short and rounded ; 

 and its eyes small, but lively and penetrating, and defended 

 by a nictating membrane : from the peculiar formation of 

 the internal parts of its nose ^ts sense of smelling is ex- 

 ceedingly exquisite : the legs and thighs are strong and 

 muscular : it has five toes on each foot, and uses its fore 

 feet as hands, although the toes are not separated as in 

 most animals that do so : the largest finger is on the 

 outside. 



The voice of the Bear is a deep and surly kind of growl, 

 which it frequently exerts without the least cause. It is 



c 2 



