THE POLAR BEAR. 



Generic Characters, 

 Six cutting and two canine teeth in each jaw. 

 Five toes on each foot. 



In walking, refts on the hind feet, as far as the heel, 

 Synonims. 



White Bear, Martins Spitz. 100. Ellis s Voy. 41. 



Ursus Albus, Klein Quad. 82. 



L'Ours Blanc, de Biiffbn, xv. 128. Brijfon Quad, 188. 



THE Polar Bear, in fize and ftrength, furpalTes moll other bealls of prey ; 

 it is fometimes found from twelve to thirteen feet in length, from the extremity 

 of the nofe to the infertion of the tail ; its head and neck are long ; its ears 

 round and fliort ; the termination of its nofe is black ; its jaws are furnilhed 

 with very fharp and lirong teeth, of an extraordinary fize ; its hair, which is 

 of a yellowifli white, is long and foft ; and its limbs are remarkably large 

 and firong. 



When the failors land on the unfrequented mores, bordering on the icy 

 mountains of Spitzbergen and Greenland, the White Bears come down, 

 look at them with an awkward kind of curiofity, and feem in doubt how 

 to acT: ; their hunger, however, foon determines them to make an attack, in 

 which, if they meet with any refinance, or happen to be mot at or wounded, 

 their courage iryftantly forfakes them, and they endeavour to make their 

 efcape ; but, finding that impracticable, they become defperate by neceflity, 

 and make a fierce defence, till they are overpowered. 



