ORDER V. THE CAliXIVORA. 175 



peasant aimisctl liimself by driving over tlic \cry worst ground lie eoidd find, 

 with tlie intention, if possible, of tin-owing tlic bear oti' his equilibrium, by 

 whicii, at last, the animal got so irritated, that he fetched his master, who 

 was in advance of him, a tremendous thwack on the shoulders with his paw. 

 This frightened the man so much, that he caused the beast to be killed 

 immediately." 



The f(_)ndness of the bear for honey is well known, and the animal frequently 

 exhibits a great degree of sagacity in seeking for, and obtaining it. By its 

 powerful olfactories it will scent a tree-, where the sweet store is deposited, at a 

 considerable distance. Having found a hollow tree containing honey, it will 

 ascend till it reaches the entrance to the cavity, whicli it will enter backwards. 

 This peculiar mode of entering the hollow honey-tree was once the means of 

 saving a poor peasant's life in Jluscovy. " The countryman, seeking for 

 honey in the woods, mounted a stupendous tree, which was hollow in the 

 centre of its trunk, and, discovering that it contained a large quantity of 

 comb, descended into the hollow, where he stuck fast in the honey, — which had 

 accumulated there to a great depth, — and every effort on his part to extricate 

 himself proved abortive. So remote was this tree, that it was iuqiossible his 

 voice could be heard. After remaining in this situation for two days, and 

 allaying his hunger with the honey, all hope of being extricated was aban- 

 doned, and he gave himself up to despair. At last a bear, who, like himself, 

 had come in search of honey, mounted the tree, and descended the hollow 

 cleft, stern forward. The man was at first alarmed, but mustered courage 

 to seize the bear with all the firmness he could ; upon which the animal took 

 fright, made a speedy retreat, and dragged the peasant after it. A\'licu fairly 

 out of the recess, he quitted his hold, and the bear made the best of its way 

 to the ground, and escaped." 



The Indians relate many stories of the attachment and affection of the bear 

 towards human beings, and cite instances where women have been preserved 

 luihurt by its capricious fondness. Considering, indeed, the great strength, 

 sagacity, and intelligence of this animal, — intelligence superior to that of the 

 lion or tiger, and keeping iu view also its partly frugivorous habits, — we should 

 naturally expect to find it, at times, manifesting these higher qualities in a 

 greater degree than we should look for in any of the larger felida\ whose 

 habits are entirely carnivorous. The incident referred to by Colonel Charles 

 Hamilton Smith is therefore perfectly credible. " Leopold, Duke of Lor- 

 raine, had a bear called IMarco, of the sagacity and sensibility of which we 

 have the following remarkaljle instance: During the winter of ITOlt, a 

 Savoyard boy, ready to perish with cold in a barn, in ^\■hieh he had been 

 put by a good woman, with some more of his companions, thought proper to 

 enter Marco's hut, \vithout reflecting on the danger which he ran iu exposing 



