122 UESUS MAHITIMrS. 



When lie was skinned, Ms neck and shoulders 

 were like those of a bull, and his whole appear- 

 ance indicated prodigious strength. The people 

 tell me that an old bear like this will kill the 

 biggest bull- walrus, although nearly three times 

 his own weight, by suddenly springing on him 

 from behind some projecting ice, seizing him 

 by the back of the neck with his teeth and 

 battering in his skull with repeated blows of 

 his enormous fore-paw ; and after seeing the 

 size and muscular development of this in- 

 di\ddual, I can quite easily believe it. 



One can form no idea of the enormous size 

 and strength of the polar bear by seeing the 

 feeble representatives of his species in the 

 Zoological Gardens, as the specimens there 

 must have been caught at a very early age, and 

 captivity, as well as the unsuitable warmth of 

 the climate, prevent them from attaining to 

 half their proper size. 



I believe TJrsus maritimiis in a state of 

 nature to be the largest and strongest carni- 

 vorous animal in the world, but like all other 

 wild animals (with the exception of rare occa- 

 sional cases) he will never face a man if he can 

 help it; and I believe the stories of their 

 extraordinary courage and ferocity, which one 



