60 THE POLAR BEAR. 



that reason always lie to bask or sleep on the very edge of the 

 pieces of floating ice, so, that on the slightest alarm, they can 

 by one roll tumble into their favourite element. They are 

 extremely restless, constantly moving their head from side to 

 side, and sleeping by very short naps. As with all wild crea- 

 tures, they turn their attention to the direction of the wind,, 

 as if expecting danger from that quarter. The bear, on seeing 

 his intended prey, gets quietly into the water, and swims until 

 he is to leeward of him, from whence, by frequent short dives, he 

 silently approaches, and so arranges his distance, that at the 

 last dive he comes up at the spot where the seal is lying. If 

 the seal attempt to escape by rolling into the water, he falls 

 into the bear's clutches - } if, on the contrary, he lie still, his 

 enemy makes a powerful spring, kills him on the ice, and 

 devours him at leisure."* 



Polar bears are sometimes floated to the shores of Iceland 

 on detached pieces of ice, and when they land they generally 

 prove destructive to the sheep. 



These creatures are not, however, exclusively restricted to 

 animal food. In autumn, according to Dr. Richardson, an 

 accomplished zoological traveller, they frequent the shores in 

 search of berries and other vegetable substances. 



The Regent's Park Zoological Gardens contain a female 

 Polar bear, in a large iron cage, barred on all sides, and adapted 

 in many respects to the animal's habits and temperament. In 

 the centre of its brick floor is a large stone tank of water 

 into which the animal frequently plunges to enjoy a cold bath. 

 " Its favourite postures are lying flat at its whole length ; 

 sitting upon its haunches, with its fore legs perfectly upright, 

 and its head and neck in a dependent position - } or standing 

 upon all fours, with its fore paws widely extended, and its 

 head and neck swinging alternately from side to side, or up- 

 wards and downwards in one continued and equable libration. 

 It feeds ravenously upon fish, and refuses no kind of flesh 

 that is offered to it ; but that it may be kept entirely upon 



* King's Journal of a Journey to the Shores of the Arctic Ocean, in 1833-5. 



