CURIOUS CREATURES. 105 



he can find no trees growing so neare another, as by 

 sliding betwixte them, hee may expell his excrements, 

 then taketh he an Alder-tree, and with his forefeete 

 rendeth the same asunder, and passeth through the 

 middest of it, for the cause aforesaid. When they are 

 wilde, men kill them with bowes and guns, for no other 

 cause than for their skins, which are pretious and pro- 

 fitable, for they are white spotted, changeably interlined 

 like divers flowers, for which cause the greatest princes, 

 and richest nobles use them in garments in the Winter 

 time; such are the Kings ofPolom'a, Swede- land, Goat- land, 

 and the princes of Germany. Neither is there any skinne 

 which will sooner take a colour, or more constantly retaine 

 it. The outward appearance of the saide skinne is like 

 to a damaskt garment, and besides this outward parte 

 there is no other memorable thing woorthy observation 

 in this ravenous beast, and therefore, in Germany, it is 

 called a foure-footed Vulture." 



As a matter of fact, the Glutton or Wolverine, which 

 is not unlike a small bear, can consume (while in con- 

 finement) thirteen pounds of meat in a day. In its wild 

 state, if the animal it has killed is too large for present 

 consumption, it carries away the surplus, and stores it up 

 in a secure hiding-place, for future eating. 



THE BEAR. 



As Pliny not only uses all Aristotle's matter anent 

 Bears, but puts it in a consecutive, and more readable 

 form, it is better to transcribe his version than that of 

 the older author. 



" Bears couple in the beginning of winter. The female 

 then retires by herself to a separate den, and then brings 



