ATTITUDE 
The upright position is not natu- 
ral tothe brown bear. It prefers 
to sit on its hams, and not to stand 
and the impressions in a bear’s track are not 
unlike those of a man’s footsteps. The claws 
are not capable of being retracted, like those 
of the Cats; consequently they are worn at 
the tips where the curve brings them in contact 
with the ground. Yet it is surprising what 
wounds these blunt but hard weapons will in- 
flict on man—wounds resembling what might 
be caused by the use of a very large garden- 
rake. Against other animals protected by hair 
bears’ claws are of little use. Dogs would 
never attack them so readily as they do were 
Photo by Ottomar Anschiits, Berlin 
AN INVITING 
CHAPTER VI 
THE BEARS 
XCEPT the great cats, no creatures have longer held a place in 
human interest than the BEARS. Their size and formidable: 
equipment of claws and teeth give the touch of fear which 
goes with admiration. On the other hand, they do not, asa rule, molest 
human beings, who see them employing their great strength on appar- 
ently insignificant objects with some amusement. Except one species, 
most bears are largely fruit and vegetable feeders. The sloth-bear of 
India sucks up ants and grubs with its funnel-like lips ; the Malayan bear 
is a honey-eater by profession, scarcely touching other food when it can 
get the bees’ store ; and only the great polar bear is entirely carnivorous. 
The grizzly bear of the Northern Rocky mountains is largely a flesh 
eater, consuming great quantities of putrid salmon in the Columbian 
rivers. But the ice-bear is ever on the quest for living or dead flesh ; 
it catches seals, de- 
vours young sea- 
fowl and eggs, and 
can actually kill 
and eat the gigantic 
walrus. 
Every one will 
have noticed the 
deliberate flat- 
footed walk of the 
bears. This is due 
partly to the for- 
mation of the feet 
themselves. The 
whole sole is set flat 
upon the ground, 
Photo by Fratelli Alinari] ; licens 
THREE PERFORMING BEARS 
they armed with the talons of a leopard or tiger. Those on the right and left are Himalayan black bears. The white 
The flesh-teeth in both jaws of the bear are 
8 
collar is plainly seen 
109 
