366 THE polaH eeAr. 



wards the Whale : as this person and others observ-* 

 ed, who had sometimes the ctiriosity to row at a 

 distance after them, to see whether their noses would 

 serve them for guides when their eyes could not *• 



During the summer, they reside chiefly on the 

 ice-islands ; and frequently swim from one to ano- 

 ther, though six or seven leagues asunder -f-. They 

 lodge in dens formed in the vast masses of ice ; 

 where they breed, producing one or two young at a 

 time. About the end of March they bring these 

 out, and immediately bend their course towards the 

 sea. At this time their young are not larger than a 

 White Fox ; and their steps on the snow not bigger 

 than a crown-piece, while those of the dam will 

 measure near fifteen inches in length and nine in 

 breadth. — When the masses of ice are detached by 

 strong winds or currents, the Bears allow them- 

 selves to be carried along with them ; and as they 

 cannot regain the land, nor abandon the ice on 

 which they are embarked, they often peribh in the 

 open sea. 



Theaffection between the parent and the young 

 is £0 great, that they will sooner die than desert each 

 other in distress. I shall relate an instance; one which 

 probably the reader will recollect. " While the 



* Phil. \Vorks of tl:e Hon. ^Ir. Boyle. 



t Bcw. Quad. '2(><>. — There seems considerable difference in opi- 

 ilioi) on this subject. Buiron savs tliat they never s'^vim more than a 

 league at a time; tliat in Norway they are followed in small boats, and 

 •^re soon fatigued: tliat also they sometimes dive, but tiiis is only i'or 

 a few seconds-; and Jest thev should be drowned, they 5ufier thenii elves 

 tote killed on thesuilatv; oi' the wa.Xcr.—Buj: ^uiul, \\il 2:21. 



