THE POLAR BEAR. 
131 
the greater part of its existence. Without losing the 
clumsiness of form so characteristic of the genus, it is 
much more elongated in all its parts excepting the legs, 
and makes an approach in this particular, although it 
must be owned a very distant one, to the Otters and 
other amphibious beasts of prey. The flatness of its 
head also presents a striking analogy to the same tribe 
of animals. Instead of the indentation between the 
forehead and muzzle observable in the Brown Bear, the 
line of its profile is nearly straight, while the upper 
and hinder part of its cranium is rather depressed than 
elevated. The muzzle itself is broader and thicker, and 
the head much narrower and more cylindrical. But 
the most remarkable elongation occurs in the neck, 
which is nearly twice as long and quite as thick as the 
head. The feet also are longer than in the Brown Bear, 
and are more than proportionally broad. The ears and 
mouth are peculiarly small. The fur is throughout of 
a dull silvery white with a slight tinge of yellow. It is 
short and even on the head, neck, and upper part of 
the back ; and long, fine, and woolly on the hinder 
parts, belly, and legs. The extremity of the nose, a 
circle round each of the eyes, and the margins of the 
lips are black, with somewhat of a violet tinge on the 
latter. A still lighter shade prevails on the tongue and 
inside of the mouth. The sole is almost entirely clothed 
with long hair, by which a firm footing on the ice is 
secured ; and the claws are short, thick, black, and but 
little curved. 
But the differences in manners and habits between 
the White and the Brown Bears are still more remark- 
able than those of form. Instead of seeking with the 
latter the covert of the forest and choosing in preference 
the most alpine regions, it invariably makes its abode 
upon the sea-coast or in the sea itself, preferring the 
K 2 
