ORDER CARNASSIER. 221 



Both sexes retire in the winter, and the period of parturi- 

 tion with the female is in spring, after a gestation of seven 

 months. She produces from one to five at a birth. 



We have observed that Bears feed chiefly on vegetable 

 substances, and may consequently be considered as semi- 

 carnivorous. They will, notwithstanding, at times destroy 

 the poultry, fyc, in a farm-yard, and sometimes they sub- 

 sist on fish. They are also very fond of honey, and not- 

 withstanding the clumsiness of their conformation, exhibit 

 a considerable degree of agility in mounting trees in search 

 of it. Their mode of fighting is chiefly by seizing their 

 adversary, and squeezing him between the arms and breast 

 until they have deprived him of life. They never attack man 

 except under the influence of severe hunger ; and it is re- 

 ported that, when so pressed, they will associate together 

 in search of animal food. 



Major Hamilton Smith (to whose researches natural his- 

 tory is so deeply indebted) made a drawing of an Euro- 

 pean Bear at Dresden, which seems to be, if not a distinct 

 species, at least a strongly-marked variety. It was about 

 four feet high at the shoulders. The physiognomy differed 

 from that of the common Bear. The ears were small and 

 round, and the facial line was greatly depressed at the 

 junction of the nasal and frontal bones. The colour, was 

 a fiery yellow on the head and back, passing into chestnut 

 and red on the sides and hams. The belly and paws were 

 brown, and there was a dark streak upon the nose spread- 

 ing into branches towards the orbits. The general form of 

 the animal was extremely clumsy. 



The same gentleman also took a drawing of a specimen 

 at Buda, in Hungary, of a Bear which appeared about forty 

 years ago on the shores of the Danube, in Upper Hungary. 

 This animal was uncommonly large, and had proved exces- 

 sively destructive to the cattle, consequently every effort 

 was made to seize or destroy it. But shot appeared to take 



