MAMMALIA. 35 
and he then selects a mortal part into which he thrusts his spear. The old one 
being killed, the hole is broken open, and the young cubs may be taken out by 
the hand, as, having tasted no blood and never having been at liberty, they are 
then very harmless and quiet. Females which are not pregnant roam throughout 
the whole winter in the same manner as the males. The coupling time is May.’ 
The flesh of the Polar Bear is, as stated by Captain Phipps (Lord Mulgrave), 
exceedingly coarse. The Russian sailors who wintered in Spitzbergen, found it, 
on the other hand, much more agreeable to the taste than the flesh of the rein- 
deer. I quote this fact here, not to show that there was any thing peculiarly 
gross in the taste of the Russians, but to have an opportunity of remarking, that 
when people have fed for a long time solely upon lean animal food, the desire for 
fat meat becomes so insatiable, that they can consume a large quantity of un- 
mixed, and even oily fat, without nausea. Our seamen relish the paws of the 
Bear, and the Esquimaux prefer its flesh at all times to that of the seal. Instances 
are recorded of the liver of the Polar Bear having poisoned people. 
The reader who is desirous of fuller accounts of the manners and habits of this 
very curious animal will be gratified by turning to Marten’s Spitzbergen, Fabricius’ 
Fauna Groenlandica, Pennant’s Arctic Zoology, and Scoresby’s Account of the 
Arctic Regions. I subjoin some well-authenticated measurements of Polar Bears. 
Captain Phipps. Captain Ross. Captain Lyon. 
Feet. Inches. Feet. Inches. Feet. Inches. 
Length from nose to tail 5 5 a 1 7 10 8 ves 
3 the shoulder-blade 2 3 2) 0 0 0 
Height at the shoulder 4 4 3 4 1 4 9 
Girth near the fore-legs 7 0 6 0 7 ll 
>> Of the neck 2 1 3 2 3 41 
Breadth of the fore-paw 0 7 * 0 10 0 10 
J hind-paw 0 0 0 8 0 0 
Length from nostrils to hind head 0 0 1 6 ] 6 
> Of fore-claws 0 0 0 23 0 24 
~£ of hind-claws 0 0 0 1¢ 0 1k 
= of tail 0 0 0 4 0 5 
Weight ; : . ° 610 lbs. 3 1160 lbs. - 1600 Ibs *. 
* Captain Lyon states that his specimen was unusually large. 
