THE POLAR BEAU. 3()5 



fish, and the carcases of Whales ; but when on 

 land, they prey on Deer, and other animals, as 

 Hares, young birds, &c. They likewise eat various 

 kinds of berries, which they happen to find. They 

 go on the flakes of ice in search of Seals : and also 

 attack the Arctic Walrus ; but this creature makes 

 a noble defence with its long tusks, and sometimes 

 comes off victorious. They are said to be frequently 

 seen in Greenland in great droves, alhired by the 

 smell of the flesh of Seals : and they will some- 

 times surround the habitations of the natives and 

 "attempt to break in * ; when, it is added, the most 

 successful method of repelling them is by the smoke 

 of burnt feathers -j-. 



The following story of the sagacity of these ani- 

 mals in searching for prey, is inserted from the works 

 of the Hon. Kobert Boyle : " An old Sea-captain 

 told me that the White Bears in or about Green- 

 land, notwithstanding the coldness of the climate, 

 have an excellent nose ; and that sometimes when 

 the fishermen had dismissed the carcase of a Whale, 

 and left it floating on the waves, three or four 

 leagues from the shore, whence it could not be seen, 

 these animals would stand as near the water as they 

 could, and raising themselves on their hind legs, 

 loudly snuff in the air, and with the two paws of 

 their fore leus drive it as it were ap-ainst their 

 snouts ; and when they were (as my rulatcr sup- 

 posed) satisfied whence the odour came, they would 

 cast themselves into the sea, and swim directly to- 



* Crintz, i. 72- ''' Penn. Arct. V.ci>]. i. '>': 



