32 EXTINCT BRITISH ANIMALS. 



the fell-lurking curs by the mere shaking of their 

 chains, and describes a hot o'erweening cur running 

 back and biting his owner, who -withheld him, yet 

 when suffered to get within reach of the bear's fell 

 paw, clapped his tail between his legs and howled. — 

 Second Part of Henry VI. act v. sc. i. 



The noise of the bear-gardens must have been 

 well-nigh unendurable, what with the din of men 

 eager to bet on their favourites, and the loud shouts 

 of the respective partisans of dog and bear. At the 

 present day the comparison of a noisy house to a 

 " bear-garden" stiU perpetuates the national amuse- 

 ment of our forefathers. 



Happily, such pastimes have long been obsolete, 

 although the memoiy of these bygone days is still 

 occasionally revived by an attempted exhibition of a 

 tame performing bear.* 



* Singularly enough, while these pages were passing througli the 

 press the daily papers of August n, 1880, furnished a report of a 

 summons which had just been heard by the magistrate at Greenwich 

 against two Frenchmen who had been brought before him " charged 

 with exhibiting a bear in the streets, to the danger of the public." A 

 constable stated that on the afternoon of the previous day he was on 

 duty at Eushey Green, Lewisham, when a party of ladies drove up in 

 a carriage and said that some men were performing with a strange 

 animal at Oatford Bridge, and that their horse would not pass it. He 

 went to the bridge, where he saw the two Frenchmen with a bear, 

 which was dancing, turning summersaults, and climbing a pole. He 

 told them that such exhibitions were not allowed in the public streets, 

 and on their continuing the performance he took them into custody. 

 The magistrate told the men that if they would at once leave the 

 country with the bear, he would let them go. They gave the desired 

 promise, and were accordingly discharged. 



