POLAR BEAR. 
411 
ing to a ship in the whale fishery* shot at a bear 
st a little distance* and wounded it. The animal 
im mediately set up the most dreadful howl* and 
ran along the ice towards the boat. Before he 
reached it* a second shot was fired* which hit him. 
This served but to increase his fury. He presently 
swam to the boat* and in attempting to get on 
board* placed one of his fore feet upon the gunnel ; 
but a sailor* having a hatchet in his hand* cut it 
off. The animal still* however* continued to swim 
after them* till they arrived at the ship ; and seve- 
ral shots were fired at him* which took effect ; 
but on reaching the ship* he immediately ascended 
the deck ; and the crew having fled into the shrouds, 
he was pursuing them thither* when a shot laid him 
dead upon the deck. 
The usual food of these animals consist of seals* 
fish* and the carcases of whales ; but when on 
land* they prey on deer* and other animals* as 
hares* young birds* &c. They likewise eat various 
kinds of berries, which they happen to find. 
They go on the flakes of ice in search of seals ; 
and also attack the arctic walrus ; but this creature 
makes a noble defence with its long tusks* and 
sometimes comes off victorious. They are said to 
be frequently seen in Greenland in great droves* 
allured by the smell of the flesh of seals ,* and they 
will sometimes surround the habitations of the 
natives* and attempt to break in ; when* it is added,* 
the most successful method of repelling them is fi by 
the smoke of burnt feathers. 
The affection between the parent and the young 
is so great* that they will sooner die than deserl 
each other in distress. We shall relate an instance. 
•» 
f* While the Carcase frigate* which went out 
some years ago* to make discoveries towards the 
north pole*, was locked in the ice* early one morn- 
ing the man at the masthead gave notice that tlirea 
