78 THE WORLD OF ANIMAL LIFE 



and in certain districts of Northern Africa. As a rule, however, 

 it avoids the hotter regions, and where it exists in the tropics it 

 makes its home on the sides of hills and mountains considerably 

 above the level of the sea, where it is cooler than in the sur- 

 rounding and lower districts. 



Most members of the bear family belong to what is known as 

 the genus Ursus. This genus includes among others the polar and 

 the brown bear. We shall notice, however, in addition, the sloth 

 bear, a very interesting animal differing widely from these species. 



THE POLAR BEAR 



It seems strange that a warm-blooded animal, such as a bear, can 

 live far away in the Arctic regions, where the ice and snow some- 

 times do not melt all the year round. But the Polar Bear, or 

 " Nennook" as the Eskimos call it, is specially formed for such a 

 life, and has such a warm coat of thick close fur that it never feels 

 the cold. 



There is another way, too, in which the polar bear is suited to 

 the life it has to lead. It is often obliged to travel over the ice, 

 especially when it wants to catch one of the seals which are to 

 be found resting upon it. 



Any other bear would be sure to slide about on the slippery 

 surface, and would so alarm its intended victim. But the Nen- 

 nook, unlike other bears, has the soles of its feet closely covered 

 with stout bristles, so that it can always obtain a firm footing even 

 upon the ice. 



The feet of the polar bear, besides being very long and heavy, 

 are furnished with a set of huge claws, with which it seizes and 

 destroys its prey. It is a capital swimmer, and can even overtake 

 and catch fish. Sometimes, too, it attacks the walrus, which is 

 a kind of large seal, and kills it in a way so curious as to be 

 worth description. 



The walrus, like the seals, frequently leaves the water, and 

 sleeps near the edge of a sheet of ice, or "floe" as it is often 

 called, so that it may quickly dive into the sea if it should be 



