104 MAMMALIA — BEAR. 



This animal is capable of some degree of instruction. There are few who 

 have not seen him stand on his hind legs, or with these dance in rude and 

 awkward measure, to tunes either simg or played on an instrument. But, 

 even in thus tutoring him, it is necessary, in order to succeed, that the 

 animal should be taken young, and be held in constraint ever after. The bear 

 which has passed his youth, is not to be tamed, nor even held in awe, and 

 shows himself, if not actively intrepid, at least fearless of danger. 



The wild bear turns not from his path, nor offers to shun the sight of 

 man ; and yet, it is said, by a certain whistle he may be surprised, and so 

 far charmed as to stop, and stand upon his hind feet. This is the time to 

 shoot, or by one method or other to destroy him ; for, when only wounded 

 in an attack, he darts with fury at his foe, and, clasping him with his 

 fore paws, is sure to stifle or strangle him, unless immediate assistance be 

 given. 



The bear enjoys the senses of seeing, hearing, and feeling, in great per- 

 fection ; and yet, compared with the size of his body, his eye is very small ; 

 his ears are also short; his skin is coarse; and his hair very thick. His 

 smell is exquisite ; more so, perhaps, than that of any other animal, the 

 internal surface of his nose being very extensive, and excellently calculated 

 to receive the impression of odors. He strikes Avith his paws as a man 

 strikes with his fist^ ; but in Avhatever particulars he may bear a rude kind 

 of resemblance to the human species, he is only rendered the more de- 

 formed by them ;. nor do they give him the smallest superiority over other 

 animals. 



In no part of the world, perhaps, are bears more numerous than at Kam- 

 stchatka, and no where are they so gentle. They rove about the plains in 

 large droves, yet they never disturb the women and girls, who gather roots 

 and herbs, or turf for fuel, in the very midst of them ; nay, they will even 

 eat out of their hands. Their mildness, however, does not preserve them 

 from being persecuted by mankind. For this ingratitude man has, indeed, 

 some excuse in the great utility of the spoils of the bear. The Kamstcha- 

 dale would find it much more difficult to subsist, did not the bear supply 

 him with many necessary articles. Beds, coverlets, caps, gloves, shoe- 

 soles, and collars for sledge dogs, are made of the skin; the fat is savory 

 and nutritious as food, and when melted is used as oil ; the flesh is highly 

 esteemed ; the shoulder blades are converted into sickles for cutting grass ; 

 the intestines, when prepared, are worn by the women as masks, to protect 

 the face from the sun, and are also converted into excellent panes for win- 

 dows ; and the heads and haunches are hung on trees, around the dwellings, 

 as ornaments, or as trophies. To the bear the Kamstchadale is likewise 

 indebted for his scanty knowledge of physic and surgery, which he acquires 

 by noticing what herbs the animal applies to his wounds, or eats when he 

 is laboring under disease ; and to the bear, too, he owes all his ideas of 



