892 
THE BEAR. 
tended; the tongue is very long, the claws 
long and crooked, and there is a clear, white 
spot upon the breast. The colour is jet-black, 
with the exception of the white spot above 
mentioned and the muzzle, which is of a 
yellowish colour. It is very sagacious and 
gentle, and has a wonderful fondness for 
all sorts of dainties, especially honey, 
which , its long, flexible tongue is well 
adapted for devouring. It haunts the 
neighbourhood of villages in order to de¬ 
vour the young shoots of the cocoanut- 
trees, of which it is very fond, and does 
much mischief in this way; but it does not 
attack man, and, indeed, never eats flesh 
unless pressed by hunger. Sir Stamford 
Raffles had one which was very tame and 
a great favourite. He says, ‘ He lived two 
years in my possession. He was brought 
up in the nursery with the children, and 
when admitted to my table, as was fre¬ 
quently the case, gave a proof of his taste 
by refusing to eat any fruit but mangostins 
or drink any wine but champagne. The 
only time I ever knew him out of humour 
was on an occasion when no wine was forth¬ 
coming. He was naturally of an affection- 
