THE POLAR BEAR 



89 



land in the northern portion of Bering Sea, they found upon 

 it between 250 and 300 Polar Bears! The animals were 

 basking in the warm sunshine, shedding their winter coats, 

 and growing fat on the roots of the plants and mosses that 



E. E. Sanborn., Photo., N. Y. Zoological Park. 



POLAR BEAR. 



grew there. On one occasion twenty bears were in sight 

 simultaneously. The bears Uterally overran the island, graz- 

 ing and rooting about like hogs on a common. . They showed 

 no disposition to fight, but always ran when approached. 



The Polar Bear is a tall animal, with long legs, flat sides, 

 and paws that are very wide and flat. The largest specimen 

 in the New York Zoological Park is 50}4 inches in height, 

 7 feet 2 inches in length, and weighs about 800 pounds. When 

 standing erect on his hind legs, the end of his nose is 8 feet 



