to a certain extent ; but they exhibit no 

 high mental development. Some indi- 

 viduals become very tame, though they 

 display no particular affection for their 

 master and keeper. They always revert 

 to their grosser animal instincts in old 

 age, for then they become wicked, in- 

 tractable and violent. The Bears signify 

 their various moods by modulations of 

 their remarkable voices, finding utterance 

 in dull growling, snorting and murmur- 

 ing, or grunting, whistling and sometimes 

 barking sounds." 



A family of young Bears consists of 

 from one to six, which are fed and pro- 

 tected in the most tender manner by their 

 watchful and careful mother. Born naked 

 and blind, it is usually five or six weeks 

 before they can see and have a season- 

 able coat of hair. After this, they are 

 full of life and very playful, and their 

 antics are very amusing. 



Bears may be classed under three 

 groups; the Sea Bears, the Land Bears 

 and the Honey Bears. 



The Polar or White Bear is the only 

 representative of the first class. This 

 species has been wonderfully provided for 

 by Nature. Living as it does in the re- 

 gions of perpetual ice and snow, the pure 

 white color of its fur becomes a protec- 

 tion, as it is less easily observed. It also, 

 unlike the other species, has the soles of 

 its feet covered with hair which enables 

 it to move more freely and safely on the 

 ice. They have been noted at a distance 

 of fully fifty miles from the nearest shore, 

 swimming without effort and showing no 

 fatigue. 



One of the best known of the Land 

 Bears is the Brown Bear of Northern 

 Europe and Asia. It varies greatly and 

 some authorities divide it into several dis- 

 tinct species. It is easily tamed and be- 



cause of the ease with which it supports 

 itself on its hind feet it is often taught 

 to step to the sound of music. Here also 

 is classed the Grizzly Bear, which is near- 

 ly as large as the Polar Bear and much 

 more ferocious. It has been known to 

 attack the bison and carry a body weigh- 

 ing one thousand pounds or more to its 

 den some distance away. 



The Black Bear of our illustration is 

 also a member of this class. It is a native 

 of the wooded parts of North America. 

 This species is timid though agile, strong 

 and is of great endurance. Its fur is soft 

 and even and shining black in color. It 

 can run more swiftly than can a man and 

 will escape in this manner if possible. 



Though it principally feeds on herbs, 

 fruits and grains, it will also devour live 

 stock of the smaller kinds and may even 

 attack cattle. In captivity they are much 

 better natured than the other species. 

 ''They never make hostile use of their 

 strength in their relations with their 

 keepers, but completely acknowledge hu- 

 man supremacy and present no difficul- 

 ties in their training. At any rate, they 

 fear their keeper more than he does 

 them." 



The third class is illustrated by a sin- 

 gle species, the Sloth, or Honey Bear, 

 also called the Aswal. It is a native of 

 India and frequents hilly localities. It 

 feeds upon fruits, honey and the lower 

 animals, such as ants and the grubs of 

 various insects. It also enjoys the comb 

 and honey of bees. With its large and 

 scythe-shaped claws it will destroy the 

 strongly built homes of the white ants. 

 In its native country the Sloth is trained 

 by jugglers to perform many tricks and 

 in captivity it is docile and comparatively 

 good-natured. 



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