BEAR. 
235 
and sometimes among the most dangerous precipices 
of uninhabited mountains. 
The length of a full grown brown bear is about 
six feet. He is covered with a hard and thick 
skin, and clothed with long coarse hair ; he has 
short ears, little eyes, strong and clumsy limbs, 
large feet, and a tail which is hardly visible. He 
is said to destroy cattle, and feed even on carrion; 
nevertheless, he seems intended by Nature to live 
upon vegetables, since he will eat potatoes, corn, 
different sorts of fruits and roots, and is known to 
be fond of peas ; of which, says Mr. Pennant, <<r he 
will tear up great quantities, and, beating them out 
of their shells on some stone or hard spot of ground, 
eats the grain, and carries off the straw.” The 
senses of seeing, hearing, and feeling, he possesses 
in high perfection, and is even capable of some 
degree of instruction, so much indeed, as to move 
in awkward measures upon his hind feet to the voice 
or instrument of his leader ; and it must be con- 
fessed, says Goldsmith, “ that the dancer is often 
found to be the best performer of the two ” He 
is a most capricious creature, and never, safely, to 
be trusted, however mild and gentle his appearance 
may be towards his master. In his attacks, instead 
of using his teeth he strikes his adversary with his 
paws ; and not contented with the usual mode of 
warfare, he hugs his enemy with all his might, 
who seldom quits his embraces till he is squeezed 
to death. 
On the approach of the winter months the bear. 
