206 
LONDON BEARS 
with all its weight of bone and muscle, seldom attacks 
even so large an animal as a buffalo, unless crippled 
by wounds. 
The old Polar bear is now heavy with age and 
indolence ; but the young female exhibits an activity 
and “lissomness,” whether on land or in the water, 
which shows how swift, dexterous, and terrible a foe 
to animal life the Polar bear must be. Confinement 
and maturity have not in the least abated its vigour, 
and it seems to enjoy life more than any creature in 
the Zoo. Fresh water is let into their bath three 
times in the week, and as soon as the bottom is 
covered the young bear rolls in and “ cuts capers,” 
to use the keeper’s phrase. “ She teased the old one 
till he got up to have a look, and then shoved him 
in,” he informed us on a recent visit ; and though 
he seldom enters the bath now, he quite enjoyed it 
when once under-water. When in the bath by her- 
self the female bear is in a state of pure physical 
enjoyment delightful to watch. She always prefers 
to take a “ header,” but not after the orthodox 
fashion, for as her nose touches the bottom she turns 
a somersault slowly, and then floats to the surface 
on her back. After several rolls in the water she 
begins to play. Taking hold of her hind-paws with 
her fore-feet, she makes a huge ball of her body, and 
turns round and over with a curiously buoyant, easy 
movement, occasionally putting her head out to take 
breath and look at the spectators. Then she clambers 
out, shakes herself, and gallops round the edge of the 
