394 ADVENTURES WITH THE BROWN BEAR. 



when the ground is covered with a uniform carpet of snow, might easily be passed with- 

 out detection. Bears are nearly as careful of their comfort as cats, and take the greatest 

 pains to prepare a soft and warm bed, in which they lie at ease during their long sleep. 

 The flooring of their winter-house is thickly covered with dried leaves and all kinds of 

 similar substances, the smaller branches of the pine-tree being in great request for this 

 purpose. In the Swedish language this moss-house is known by the name of 

 " Korg." 



Heavy and unwieldy as the Bear may seem to be, it is possessed of marvellous 

 activity, and when disturbed in its den rushes out with such astonishing rapidity that 

 it will baffle the aim of any but a cool and experienced hunter. One writer, who 

 witnessed the sudden issuing of a Bear from its den and its escape from its pursuers, 

 compares the animal to those children's toys that are popularly called " skip-jacks," 

 and which execute somersaults by means of a twisted string, a wooden lever, and a 

 little shoemakers' wax. 



If captured when young, the Brown Bear is readily tamed, and is capable of mastering 

 many accomplishments. It is a very playful animal, and seems to have a keen sense of 

 the ludicrous, which sometimes causes it to overpass the bounds of good breeding. To 

 its owner it displays a great affection, and can be trained to follow him about like a dog. 

 Two of these animals belonging to Mr. Lloyd, and which he had tamed, were very game- 

 some in their disposition, although, as they increased in size and strength, their frolic- 

 some disposition became rather annoying. They were extremely fond of their master, 

 and would seek him on every occasion. If he fastened the door of his room against 

 his troublesome pets, they would clamber up the side of the house, and gain access by 

 the window. It is said that if domesticated Bears be permitted to remain in a secluded 

 place they will pass the winter in a torpid state. 



The affectionate nature of the Brown Bear is not only exercised towards human 

 friends, but towards each other. Two of these animals which were born in England were 

 exceedingly attached to each other. One of the two was sold and removed from its 

 companion, which immediately became uneasy at the protracted absence of its play- 

 fellow. So deeply was its affectionate heart wounded by the separation, that it became 

 nearly mad, and at last contrived to make its escape from its place of confinement, 

 evidently with the intention of searching after its lost friend. It was captured and 

 replaced in its cage, but its health became so seriously affected that its owners were 

 obliged to repurchase its companion and restore it to its disconsolate relation. 



Savage as is the Bear when attacked, it is naturally of a kind and playful disposition, 

 seldom inflicting injury except when urged by fear or hunger. Mr. Atkinson, in his 

 valuable work on Siberia, relates a curious and interesting anecdote of the gentleness 

 which naturally actuates the Brown Bear. 



Two children, of four and six years of age, had wandered away from their home, and 

 were after a little time missed by their parents, who set out in search of their offspring. 

 To their horror and astonishment they found their children engaged in play with a large 

 Bear, which responded to their infantine advances in a most affectionate manner. One 

 of the children was feeding its shaggy playfellow with fruit, while the other had mounted 

 on its back and was seated on its strange steed strong in the fearlessness of childish 

 ignorance. The parents gave a terrified scream on seeing the danger to which their 

 children were exposed, and the Bear, on seeing their approach, quietly turned away from 

 the children and went into the forest. 



The same writer records a curious adventure with a Bear, which partakes largely of 

 the ludicrous. A woman had lost her donkey, and after a long and fatiguing search she 

 at last came on the missing animal. Being very much irritated with the truant for his 

 misconduct, she fell to scolding and beating him with the handle of a broom which she 

 happened to be carrying. Her vituperation and castigation were however suddenly 

 checked by the discovery that the animal which she was beating so unceremoniously 

 was not her donkey, but a great Brown Bear. The astonishment of the two seems to 

 have been mutual, for the bear was evidently as much confused by the unwarranted 

 assault as was the woman by the sight of her antagonist ; so that after looking at each 

 other for a few moments, the bear turned tail and ran away as fast as his legs would 



