Chap. 54.] 
BEAES AKD THEIR CTTBS. 
307 
aros,"^^ in order to relax the bowels, which would otherwise 
become in a state of constipation ; and they sharpen the edges 
of their teeth against the young shoots of the trees. Their 
eye-sight is dull, for which reason in especial, they seek the 
combs of bees, in order that from the bees stinging them in 
the throat and drawing blood, the oppression in the head may 
be relieved.'^^ The head of the bear is extremely weak, whereas, 
in the lion, it is remarkable for its strength : on which account 
it is, that when the bear, impelled by any alarm, is about to 
precipitate itself from a rock, it covers its head with its paws. 
In the arena of the Circus they are often to be seen killed by 
a blow on the head with the fist. The people of Spain have 
a belief, that there is some kind of magical poison in the brain 
of the bear, and therefore burn the heads of those that have 
been killed in their public games ; for it is averred, that the 
brain, when mixed with drink, produces in man the rage of 
the bear.^^ These animals walk on two feet, and climb down 
trees backwards. They can overcome the bull, by suspending 
themselves, by all four legs, from its muzzle and horns, thus 
wearing out its powers by their weight. In no other animal 
is stupidity found more adroit in devising mischief. It is re- 
corded in our Annals, that on the fourteenth day before the 
calends of October, in the consulship of M. Piso and M. Mes- 
sala, Domitius Ahenobarbus, the curule sedile, brought into 
the Circus one hundred JSTumidian bears, and as many -Ethi- 
opian hunters, I am surprised to find the word I^umidian 
added, seeing that it is well known that there are no bears pro- 
duced in Africa.^^ 
'^^ Pliny enumerates, at considerable length, the varieties of aros, in B. 
xxiv. c. 92 ; it is also described in B. xix. c. 30 ; it is probably a species 
of amm.— B. See pp. 299, 300, N. 47. 
''^ This is, of course, without foundation.— B. 
so This supposed noxious quality is entirely without foundation. — B. 
81 This probably refers more particularly to the mode in which the bear 
descends from trees or poles, in the supine posture, not, as is the case in 
most other animals, with the head downwards. — B. 
82 18th September. 
S3 It appears, from the remarks of Cuvier, to be still doubtful whether 
the bear be really a native of Africa ; see Ajasson, vol. vi. p. 457 ; Le- 
maire, vol. iii. p. 466. — B. 
