ROLLING STONES. 



137 



This invention has also been anticipated in Nature. 



Putting aside the obvious reflection that the most primitive 

 warriors must have noticed the effects of stones falling over 

 a precipice, we have, in Captain Hall's " Life with the 

 Esquimaux," a curious account of the Polar Bear and its mode 

 of capturing the Walrus. Gigantic as is this animal, and 

 terrible as are its tusks, the Polar Bear will sometimes attack 

 it, as is evident by the scars left on those Bears which have 

 been fortunate enough to escape from their assailant. 



Still, the combat is sure to be a severe one, and so the Polar 

 Bear will, if he can, secure his prey by some other method. 



" The natives tell many most interesting anecdotes of the 

 Bear, showing that they are accustomed to watch his move- 

 ments closely. He has a very ingenious method of killing the 

 Walrus. 



" In August, every fine day, the Walrus makes its way to 

 the shore, draws its huge body upon the rocks, and basks in 

 the sun. If this happen near the base of a cliff, the ever- 

 watchful Bear takes advantage of the circumstance to attack 



BEAR KILLIXG WALRUS. 



WARRIORS DEFEXDIXG A PASS. 



his formidable game in this way. The Bear mounts the cliff, 

 and throws down upon the animal's head a large rock, calcu- 

 lating the distance and the curve with astonishing accuracy, 

 and thus crushing the thick, bullet-proof skull. 



" If the Walrus is not instantly killed, or simply stunned, 



