2- 1 (5 The hooke of Hunting 



dogge hath a greater heele, a greater toe, greater nayles, and a 

 rounder foote : and the Bitche cafteth hyr fiants commonly in 

 the middeft of an high way, whereas the dogge cafteth them on 

 the one or other fide of the pathe. And now let thefe fewe things 

 fuffife for the hunting of the Wolfe. 



Of the Hunting of the Beare, and firft 



of hir nature and properties 



Chap. 77 



THere be Beares of two forts, that one much greater than that 

 other naturally : although they be of equall age, or how long 

 foeuer they Hue, but their properties and conditions are all one, 

 fauing that the greater be much ftronger, the which I accoumpt 

 no difference of nature. They are naturally very cruell and harme- 

 fuU vnto all tame beaftes, and are very ftrong in all partes of 

 their bodies but onely the head. A fmall blow on the head killeth 

 them : they go to make in December, fome fooner and fome later, 

 according to their reft and good feeding : their heate endureth 

 fifteene dayes and not pafte. When the Shebeare doth feele hir 

 yong within hir, then doth fhe withdrawe hir felfe into fome 

 caue or rocke, and their abideth vntil flie bring forth hir whelps : 

 therefore you ftiall feldome heare of a Beare taken when fhe is 

 with whelpe. Somtimes a Beare, efpecially a Male, will keepe 

 clofe in his denne fortie dayes and nightes without eyther meate 

 or drinke, hauing none other nourifliment but onely fleepe and 

 fucking on his Toes : at fortie dayes ende they will come out, 

 and though it be a fayre day, yet will they enclofe themfelues 

 agayne for fourtie dayes longer, alwayes doubting that the 

 winter will yet continue : and lightly as long as any harde wea- 

 ther lafteth, they will not come out of their dennes. They are 

 whelped moft commonly in Marche : the moft parte of them are 

 dead one whole day after they be whelped : but the Damme doth 

 fo licke them, warme them, and cherifhe them, that fhe reuiueth 

 them at laft. Their heare at firft is more whitifh than like black : 



they 



