176 



THAT'S IT ; 



developed ; these are instruments 

 of prehension* and defence ; and 

 are also used for progression, 

 aiding the animal in climbing 

 over icebergs, and in traversing 

 the shores which it frequents. 

 Although classed with the carni- 

 vora, the walrus is probably omni- 

 vorous. \ 



Bears are widely distributed 

 animals, being found in Europe, 

 Asia, and America, and more 

 rarely in Africa. Some of them 

 live almost entirely upon vege- 

 table diet ; yet they retain carni- 

 vorous habits, and, like the walrus, 

 are in reality omnivorous. They 

 frequent the recesses of moun- 

 tains and caverns, and the depths 

 of forests. In winter they lay 

 up in caves and hollow trees, 

 passing the cold season in almost 

 entire abstinence from food. The 

 Alpine bears are brown ; in 

 some parts of Europe they are 

 black ; in some parts of Norway, 

 they have been found of a grey 

 colour, almost approaching to 



15 



514. 



white ; and in the polar regions 

 they are white, 260. 



Bears, 15, are distinguished by 

 their ponderous bulk, massive 



* Used for seizin? 



t Eutiu^ all substances indiscriminately. 



limbs, and clumsy gait. Their 

 walk is plantigrade,* and their 

 huge claws project from the 

 foot, and are not re-tractablef 

 like those of the lion, tiger, &c. 



When bears retire to their winter quarters, to 

 pass the season in a state bordering upon tor- 

 pidity, they are generally fat ; and when they 

 come forth in the spring they are lean, the fat 

 being absorbed for their nutriment. The winter 

 retreat of the American black bear is thus de- 

 scribed:— The animal selects a spot under a 

 fallen tree, where it scratches a hollow in the 

 earth ; here it retires at the commencement of a 

 snow-storm, and the snow soon furnishes it with 

 a close warm covering. Its breath makes a 

 small opening in the snow, and the quantity of 

 hoar frost which gathers round the opening, 

 arising from the frozen vapour of the animal's 

 breath, points out its place of hiding to the 

 hunter, who pursues these animals for their furs. 



Hyasnas, 1 6, form a remarkable 

 group of carnivora. They are 



16 



515. 



restless, wild, and savage in 

 temper ; the body is rather elon- 

 gated, the posterior part of the 

 the back depressed. The feet of 

 some species are digitigrade ;% in 

 others they are semi-plantigrade. § 



Hyaenas are destined to fill an important sta- 

 tion in the economy of nature. It is their part, 

 with vultures, 419, and other foul-feeding crea- 

 tures, to cleanse the earth of putrescent animal 

 matters, and especially of the decaying carcasses 

 of the larger beasts, whose remains, if not 

 speedily removed, would infect the atmosphere 



* Walking on the flat sole of the foot 



1 Capable of being- withdrawn. 



I Formed for walking on the toes 



\ Wa king partly on the sole of the fool 



