TIIEBEAaiRIBE. 89 



ou land, it preys i.pon deer and other animals, and will eat various 

 kinijs of berries. In winter, it beds itfself deeply under thi snow 

 or eminences of ice, and awaits, in a torpid state, the return of the 

 sun. It suffers exceedingly when exposed to great heat. It is a 

 formidable antagonist, either by land or water, as it dives with 

 great ease, and is able to chase the seal amid the waves. Nelson 

 nearly lost his life by imprudently attacking one of these animals 

 with no weapon but a rusty musket, which could not be induced 

 to fire ; and, indeed, had he not been separated from the infuriated 

 bear by a cleft in the ice, he could hardly have escaped its claws. 

 As the seals frequently crawl out of the water upon rocks or frag, 

 ments of ice, the Polar Bear is forced to swim after them ; but 

 lest they should observe him he makes his approaches by a suc- 

 cession of dives, and contrives that the last dive brings him 

 directly under the unsuspecting seal, who is immediately grasped 

 and killed. Richardson states that these bears are often drifted 

 from Greenland to Iceland on fields of ice, and that they find the 

 flocks and herds so very delicious after a long course of seal diet, 

 that the inhabitants are forced to rise in a body and put an end 

 to their depredations. 



The Kinkajou, or Honey Bear, is a native of South 

 America. Its tongue is capable of being inserted into crevices, 

 and drawing out any insects that may be lying concealed beyond 

 the reach of its paws. The Spanish missionaries gave it the name 

 of Honey Bear, because it is a great devastator of the nests of the 

 wild bee, using its long tongue to lick the honey out of the cells. 

 When in captivity it is very tame and gentle, and will play with 

 an acquaintance as does a cat. It displays great address in cap- 

 turing flies and other insects with its tongue, and it is amusing to 

 watch how its eyes gleam directly that a fly settles within its reach. 

 During the earlier part of the day it will not move, but towards 

 dusk it becomes very brisk and animated, climbing about its cage, 

 and swinging from the top bars by its tail and hind paws. 



The Racoon is a native of North America and the West 

 Indies, nor has it ever yet been found in any part of the Old World. 

 Its fur is fine, long, thick, blackish at the surface, and grey towards 



8* 



