88 BEAKS. 
singularly susceptible of human influence, and can be taught to catch fish 
for the service of its masters rather than for the gratification of its own 
palate. The CHINESE or INDIAN OTTER affords an excellent instance of 
this capability ; for in every part of India the trained Otters are alinost as 
common as trained dogs in England. It seems odd that the proprietors of 
streams should not press the Otter into their service instead of destroying it, 
and manage to convert into a faithful friend the animal which at preseut is 
considered but as a ruthless enemy. 
BEARS. 
The BEARS and their allies form a family which is small in point of numbers, 
but is a very conspicuous one on account of the large size of the greater 
number of its members. 
These animals are found in almost every portion of the earth’s surface, 
and are fitted by nature to inhabit the hottest and the coldest parts of the 
world. India, Borneo, and other burning lands are the homes of sundry 
members of this family, such as the Bruang and the Aswail; while the 
BROWN BEAR.—(Ursus Arctos.) 
snowy regions of Northern Europe and the icebound coasts of the Arctic 
Ocean are inhabited by the Brown Bear and the Nennook or Polar Bear. 
The paws of the Bears are armed with long and sharp talons, which are 
not capable of retraction, but which are most efficient weapons of offence 
when urged by the powerful muscles which give force to the Bear’s limbs. 
Should the adversary contrive to elude the quick and heavy blows of the 
paw, the Bear endeavours to seize the foe round the body, and by dint of 
sheer pressure to overcome its enemy. In guarding itself from the blows 
which are aimed at it by its adversary the Bear is singularly adroit, warding 
off the fiercest strokes with a dexterity that might be envied by many a 
pretender to the pugilistic art. 
Several species of Bears are now recognised by systematic naturalists, the 
principal examples of which will be noticed in the following pages. 
