132 PARTIAL WATER TRESPASSERS. 



that it lias been seen to chase and capture a salmon in 

 the open sea. So powerful is the action of its feet 

 while swimming that, when it is much excited in chase 

 of prey, it can make a succession of long springs out 

 of the water, just as one may sometimes see a pike 

 do when chasing a smaller fish. 



Both the sole and the upper part of the foot are 

 clothed with stout and long hairs. Those of the sole 

 are invaluable in giving the creature a foothold upon 

 the ice, and the latter act as a sort of pent-house to 

 shoot the water away from the foot when the animal 

 lands. 



There is a peculiarity also about the fur, which, I 

 believe, had not been publicly noticed until I called 

 attention to it in an article published in the "Daily 

 Telegraph." Ordinarily, the hairy clothing of the 

 Polar Bear is as impervious to water as the fur of a seal 

 or the feathers of a duck, and, when the animal comes 

 on shore after a dive or a swim of thirty or forty miles, 

 its skin is perfectly dry, though the water pours in 

 torrents from its back. But, in order to perform this 

 office properly, the skin must be perfectly clean ; and 

 this fact was discovered in rather a curious manner. 



A young Polar Bear was added to the collection at 

 the Zoological Gardens, and as soon as it was trans- 

 ferred to the den, it plunged joyfully into the water, 

 and swam about for a little time. Presently, however, 

 it was seen to be in difficulties. It sank lower and 

 lower in the water, and became so weak by struggling 

 that it was not able to drag itself ashore. Fortunately, 

 the keeper was, as usual, on the alert, and, by letting 

 off the water, contrived to save the creature's life. 



