HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 289 



male, lest he should devour them. She makes a 

 warm bed for her young, and attends them with 

 unremitting care during four months, and in all 

 that time scarcely allows herself any nourishment. 

 She brings forth two, and sometimes three young 

 at a time. The cubs are round and shapeless, with 

 pointed muzzles ; but they are not licked into form 

 by the female, as Pliny and other ancient naturalists 

 supposed. At first they do not exceed eight inches 

 in length. They are blind during the first four 

 weeks, are of a pale yellow colour, and have 

 scarcely any resemblance of the creature when 

 arrived at maturity. The time of gestation in these 

 animals is about six months, and they bring forth 

 in the beginning of January. 



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 

 seeks for with great cunning and avidity. 



It enjoys, in a superior degree, the senses of hear- 

 ing, smelling, and touching. Its ears are short and 

 rounded; and its eyes small, but lively and pene- 

 trating, and defended by a nictating membrane: 

 from the peculiar formation of the internal parts 

 of its nose, its sense of smelling is exceedingly 

 exquisite: the legs and thighs are strong and 



VOL. in. 2 o 



