THE POLAR BEAR. 363 



being undeceived, and invited to eat of another, 

 he felt so much disgust^, that he was not able to 

 taste it *. 



THE POLAR BEAR-f-. 



The Polar Bear inhabits only the coldest parts of 

 the globe ; being confined within eighty degrees of 

 north latitude, as far as any navigators have hitherto 

 penetrated. It is sometimes found of the length of 

 twelve feet. It differs from the Common Bear, in 

 having its head and neck ofa more lengthened form, 

 and the body longer in proportion to its bulk. The 

 ears and eyes are small ; and the teeth extremely 

 large. The hair is long, coarse, and white ; and 

 its limbs of great strength. The tips of the nose 

 and claws are perfectly black. 



The immense numbers of these animals in the polar 

 regions, are truly astonishing. They are not only seen 

 at land, but often on ice-floats several leagues at sea. 

 They are often transported in this manner to the very 

 shores of Iceland ; where they no sooner land, than 

 all the natives are in arms to receive tliem. It often 

 happens, that when a Greenlan-der and his wife arc 

 paddling out at sea, by coming too near an ice- 

 fioatj a white Bear unexpectedly jumps into their 

 boat; and, if he does not overset it, sits cdmly where 

 he first alighted, and like a passenger suiters iiim ■ 



• Brickel!, 111. 

 t SYNfONY?4S. — lUrsus Maiitinnis. Linn. — White I'cir. Vr/>\ — 

 White Sea licar. Martens. — Ours Bianc. Bujon. — I'olai" Eear. Pn.i , 

 lS/iaj::':i Gen. ZqoL vl. 103.-— iicw. 2uad. 26d. 



