260 SHORT STALKS 



" crediljle fucts wliicli lie lias gathered from many corrobo- 

 rating accounts ; " but lie is very sliy of " sportsmen's and 

 anoiers' histories, which ouo-ht not to he admitted as 

 authentic." In the former category he places mermen and 

 maidens which also inhabit these waters. These are said 

 to swear roundly in the Danish language, and when the 

 boatmen " grow apprehensive of some danger and begin to 

 retire, the monster blows up his cheeks and makes a kind 

 of roaring noise, and then dives under the water, so that 

 they see him no more." It is of course the mermen only 

 who behave in this vulgar manner. The mermaidens, accord- 

 ing to our right reverend historian, are not guilty of any 

 more forward conduct than " rolling their eyes about 

 strangely " — perhaps he meant winking — " as if it was out 

 of surprise to see what they had not seen before," and of 

 "makino- lamentable cries." 



While I am delving in this mine, I may as well 

 gather from it some particulars of the natural history of 

 the bear, the subject of this chapter. Says the Bishop, 

 " When he goes out in the spring of the year he is found 

 to Ije fattest. According to the common saying, he has 

 sucked his paws. He sucks them till they make a white 

 froth wliicli makes them sore and tender. He is at this 

 season lame, and hops about for some time, and of this the 

 huntsmen take advantage. His stomach is also sick at 

 this season, and drawn up of his long fasting ; and to cure 

 it he looks out for an ant's hillock of which he swallows 

 up the whole. This scours his inside, and cleanses and 

 strengthens his stomach." But according to the Bishop 

 there are times when the bear is much Ijetter able to take 

 care of himself, for we are told, " he will lire off a gun 



