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THE POLAR BEAR. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Six cutting teeth, and two canine in each jaw. 



Five toes before ; five behind. 



In walking refts on the hind feet as hr as tlie heel. Pennant. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER, &c. 



White bear with elongated neck and head. 



Polar bear. Penn. Hiji. ^ad. }. 288. 



TT^ H E Polar Bear, long confounded with the common fpecies, is confined 

 X to the dreary climates of the moft frozen regions of the north ; and Is 

 principally found wandering about the icy coafts of the polar feas, where it 

 preys on leals and fifh. It is an animal of tremendous ftrength, fiercenefs, 

 and courage. It is faid to form itfelf retreats under the deep fnow, or in 

 the vacuities which it finds among the mafies of ice. In the feas of the ex- 

 treme north are enormous floating malTes or iflands of ice, which form one of 

 the moft wonderful fpedlacles that nature in thofe difmal waftes can exhibit. 

 They are feen floating for many leagues together, and, when driven by winds, 

 frequently approach each other with the moft dreadful crafliing. On thefc 

 iflands of ice the fpecies of bear above-mentioned is often feen, ^or it is ca- 

 pable of fwimming feveral leagues at a time, and makes frequent excurfions 

 to fea in queft of prey. It is remarkable for the greatefl: poflible attachment 

 to its young ; in defence of which it exerts every effort of the moft defperate 

 and vindiftive courage. As a fpecies this bear is diftinguifhed from the com- 

 mon bear by the far fuperior fize of the body j by the more elongated form j 

 by its vaft ftrength of limbs, and particularly by the length of the head j the 

 figure and proportion of which differs widely from the other ipecies. Its 

 colour is white, with a very flight tinge of yellowifli, and the lips and claws 



are black. 



MOS. 



