2 6z HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



mitting care during four months, and in all that time 

 fcarcely allows herfelf any nouriftiment. She brings 

 forth two, and fometimes three, young at a time. — The 

 cubs are round and fhapelefs, with pointed muzzles ; but 

 they are not licked into form by the female, as Pliny and 

 other ancient naturalifts fuppofed. At firft they do not 

 exceed eight inches in length: They are blind during 

 the firft four weeks, are of a pale-yellow colour, and 

 have fcarcely any refemblance of the creature when ar- 

 rived at maturity. — The time of geftation in thefe ani- 

 mals is about fix months and they bring forth in the 

 beginning of January. 



In the fpring, the old Bears, attended by their young, 

 come out from their retreats, lean, and almoft famiftied 

 by their long confinement. They then ranfack every 

 quarter in fearch of food. They frequently climb trees, 

 and devour the fruit in great quantities \ particularly the 

 date-plumb tree, of which they are exceedingly fond. 

 They afcend thefe trees with furprizing agility, keep 

 themfelves firm on the branches with one paw, and with 

 the other collecl: the fruit. 



The Bear is remarkably fond of honey, which it will 

 encounter great difficulties to obtain, and feeks for with 

 great cunning and avidity. 



It enjoys, in a fuperior degree, thefenfes of hearing, 

 fmelling, and touching. — Its ears are fhort and rounded 5 

 and its eyes fmall, but lively and penetrating, and de- 

 fended by a nictating membrane: From the peculiar 

 formation of the internal parts of its nofe, its fenfe of 

 fmelling is exceedingly exquifite : The legs and thigh* 

 are ftrong and mufcular : It has five toes on each foot, 

 and ufes its fore foot as a hand, although the toes arc 



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