52 ANIxMALS IN MENAGERIES. 



in a state of lethargy, which lasts until spring, when the 

 sexes meet but for a short time ; the male abandoning 

 the young entirely to the care of their mother. Formed 

 to derive its sustenance both from the animal and ve- 

 getable world, the brown bear does not attack man un- 

 less provoked, or under an unusual and extraordinary 

 pressure of hunger. It is remarkable for longevity ; 

 instances being upon record of individuals attaining to 

 the respective ages of thirty-one and forty-seven years. 



One of the most remarkable brown bears that have 

 been of late years killed in Europe, is thus mentioned by 

 major Hamilton Smith, who saw the animal preserved 

 at Buda in Hungary, in which kingdom it appeared, 

 about forty years ago, on the shores of the Danube. 

 This animal was of an uncommonly large size, and had 

 proved so destructive to the cattle, that every effort was 

 made to destroy it : ordinary shot appeared to take no 

 effect upon him ; and, when hard pressed, he would 

 swim to the other side of the Danube, and resume his 

 depredations there, until he was chased back again. In 

 this manner he was fairly hunted into Lower Hungary, 

 having traversed most of his way by water. From 

 Semlin he was chased beyond Belgrade, but the Turkish 

 peasantry drove him back, and it was many months 

 before he was killed. Besides the peculiarity of his 

 excessive bulk, his colour was purplish, and several balls 

 were found lodged in his skin. Although the bear is 

 not uncommon in Hungary, the extraordinary colour 

 and size of this individual excited so much curiosity, 

 that he was stuffed and preserved at Buda. 



An adult brown bear from the Alps has thus been 

 described by M. Fred. Cuvier : — The body was covered 

 with very thick, long, and rather soft fur, generally of 

 a maroon brown, dark upon the shoulder, back, thighs, 

 and legs, but tinged with yellow on the sides of the 

 head, ears, and fianks : on the paws the hair became 

 short and nearly black ; as also on the muzzle, where, 

 however, it retained rather more of the brown colour of 

 the head. 



