NATURAL HISTORY of NO RW AT. if 



Sometimes, however, the Bear is contented with beating his 

 conquer' d enemy with his paws, till he feems to be dead ; and 

 when he perceives that he draws no more breath, he'll leave him ; 

 fometimes that way a life is faved. If the farmer conquers, which 

 generally happens, he then fleas the Bear, and fixes up the head, 

 as a trophy of victory, and proof of his courage, on his houfe. 

 I have fometimes feen farmers houfes, ornamented with three or 

 four at a time. A hide will fell for four, five, or fix rixdollars* 

 They fay the nefh does not tafte badly, but 'tis rather too much 

 like liver, excepting when it is falted ; a fine fat Bear ham is 

 generally commended, and does a hoft as much honour, at a wed- 

 ding, as it gives pleafure and fatisfa&ion to the guefts *. 



SECT. VIIL 



The Wolf, Ulven, which is otherwile called Varg, alias Graa- The woifi 

 been, is now become the plague and torment of this country. 

 In former times it is not known that a Wolf ever was feen in 

 the diocefe of Bergen. Filefield was then the bound of this crea- 

 ture's de variations ; he never palled that mountain, till about the 

 year 171 8, or at the end of the laft war, at which time the 

 armies marched j and all manner of neceflaries of life were 

 tranfported over that mountain in the Winter, and the infatiable 

 Wolf followed the fcent of the provision. By that means this 

 creature was firft drawn over thofe mountains, and now we are 

 no where fecure, except on the iilands : for the Winters are not 

 near fo fharp (as I have before obferved.) Near the fea it is much 

 milder than eliewhere, and feldom fb fevere as to freeze over the 

 water to the iilands, with ice enough for them to go upon. 



The Wolf is fhaped not unlike to a large dog, but its teeth 

 and claws are much ftronger : they are in colour commonly grey, 

 but in the mountains in Winter white \ they have five or iix 

 young at a time ; and we fet ourielves moft earneftly to deftroy 

 them. The old ones are very carelefs, and don't feek for iafe 

 places in the woods to hide themielves, as the bear does j but 

 run about in flocks on the mountains, and barren places f. The woir* fcosf. 

 Wolf's proper food or fubfiftence is prey of all fuch creatures as 

 he can conquer, even dogs ; for in hard Winters he will run into 

 the farmers yards after, and fometimes devour them at the kennel, 



* Bear's flelh is reckoned one of the greateft rarities among the Chinefe. According 

 to Pere du Halde's account, the emperor will fend 50 or 100 leagues into Tartary, to 

 fetch them, againft a great entertainment. 



t Hr. C. Linnaeus is of another opinion, according to his Fauna Suecia, p. 5, 

 where he fays, that the Wolf's proper habitation is in woods. Habitat hodie vulgaris 

 in filvis, ante 26 annos rarius animal in Suecia. 



Part II. F if 



