45 
yet, unfinished, a considerable amount of grading and plant¬ 
ing of trees being required. The only animal enclosure which 
has been erected there is 
No. 27.—THE POLAR-BEAR PEN, 
containing two fine young members of this species ( Ursus 
maritimus ). This animal is found throughout the arctic re¬ 
gions of Europe, Asia, and America, rarely ranging below 
the fifty-fifth degree of latitude; how far to the north they 
find their way is unknown. Sir Edward Parry saw them at 
latitude eighty-two. 
They measure sometimes nine feet in length from nose to 
tail, and are dangerous visitors when pressed, as they often 
are, by hunger, to invade the camps of sailors, ice-bound in 
the northern seas. They live on fish, seals, and blubber, and 
being perfectly at home in the water, pursue their prey and 
capture it in its native element. The following account is 
given by an arctic explorer of the cunning displayed by this 
animal in procuring food :— 
“The Bear, on seeing his intended prey, gets quietly into 
the water and swims until to leeward of him, whence by short 
dives he silently makes his approach, and so arranges his dis¬ 
tance that at the last dive he comes to the spot where the seal 
is lying. If the poor animal attempts to escape by rolling 
into the water, he falls into the bear’s clutches; if, on the 
contrary, he lies still, his destroyer makes a powerful spring, 
kills him on the ice, and devours him at leisure.” 
In captivity these animals live mostly on bread. The pair 
in the Garden were brought from Hamburg, in December, 
1876. 
No. 11.—THE LAKE. 
The Lake, used in winter for skating, is occupied in sum¬ 
mer by a number of aquatic birds, mostly belonging to the 
order Anseres. The following are usually to be seen :— 
The Mute Swan {Cygnus o/or), Europe. 
The Black Swan ( Cygnus atratus ), Australia. 
The Whistling Swan ( Cygnus americanus ), North America. 
The Magpie Goose ( Anseranas melanoleucus ), Australia. 
