290 
POLAR BEAR. 
but for the prompt and well-timed assistance of his shipmates — wlio, ob- 
serving that the affair had assumed a dangerous aspect, sallied out to his 
rescue. The little phalanx opened him a passage, and then closed to re- 
ceive the bold assailant. Though now beyond the reach of his adversary, 
the dismayed fugitive continued onwards, impelled by his fears, and never 
relaxed his exertions, until he fairly reached the shelter of his .ship. The 
Bear once more came to a stand, and for a moment seemed to survey his 
enemies with all the consideration of an experienced general ; when, find- 
ing them too numerous for a hope of success, he very wisely wheeled 
about, and succeeded in making a safe and honourable retreat.” 
Several authors speak of the liver of the Polar Bear as being poisonous. 
This is an anomaly for which no reason has yet been assigned ; the fact 
.seems, however, well ascertained. All the other parts of the animal are 
wholesome, and it forms a considerable article of food to the Indians of the 
maritime Arctic regions. 
The skin of the Polar Bear is a valuable covering to these tribes, and is 
dressed by merely stretching it out on the snow, pinning it down, and 
leaving it to freeze, after which the fat is all scraped off. It is then gen- 
erally hung up in the open air, and “ when the frost is intense, it dries 
most perfectly ; with a little more scraping it becomes entirely dry and 
supple, both skin and hair being beautifully white.” “ The time of the 
year at which the sexes .seek each other is not positively known, but it is 
most probably in the month of July, or of August. Heaene, who is an 
excellent authority, relates that he has seen them killed during this season, 
when the males exhibited an extreme degree of attachment to their com- 
panions. After a female was killed, the male placed his fore-paws over 
her, and allowed himself to be shot rather than relinquish her dead body.” 
“ The pregnant females during winter seek shelter near the skirt of the 
woods, where they excavate dens in the deepest snow-drifts, and remain 
there in a state of torpid inaction, without food, from the latter part of 
December or early in January till about the end of March ; they then 
relinquish their dens to seek food on the sea-shore, accompanied by their 
cubs.” — Godman, Vol. L, pp. 152, 153. 
The affection of the female Polar Bear for her young is exemplified 
by several .stories in the Polar voyages. Scokesby says, “ a she Bear 
with her two cubs, were pursued on the ice by some of the men, and were 
so closely approached, as to alarm the mother for the safety of her off- 
spring. Finding that they could not advance with the desired speed, she 
used various artifices to urge them forward, but without success. Deter- 
mined to save them, if possible, she ran to one of the cubs, placed her nose 
under it, and threw it forward as far as possible ; then going to the other. 
