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THE BEAR.

THE bear is an animal to be found in every latitude from the burning heat of the tropics to the most desolate and inhospitable region of the Polar seas. In these places indeed, in which almost every other creature is unable to support existence, the Polar bear seems to arrive at greater perfection than do his brethren in the warmer regions of the south. The Polar bear is an animal of the fiercest and most savage disposition, living chiefly upon such animal matters as are supplied by the Arctic ocean; but the brown bear, as it is called, though its colour varies through all the shades of brown to that of dirty white, is by no means of so ferocious a character. Its food is chiefly wild berries and other fruits, the eggs and young of birds; and it is only when the supply of these fails that it is forced to have recourse to an attack upon the larger animals. It is of course this species which is mentioned in Scripture.

The body of the bear is very thick and strong, covered with a coarse sort of hair almost of the nature of wool, so thickly planted as to give the

animal a heavy and ungainly appearance. The head is large and long; the eyes and ears small. Its sense of smelling is very acute. From the peculiar formation of the feet and legs, its mode of walking is exceedingly awkward. But under a forbidding exterior, the bear conceals a considerable degree of alertness and courage. If urged by hunger, it courageously attacks the larger animals, and even man himself. In pursuit of prey it boldly enters the broad and rapid stream, and climbs to the top of the highest tree.

The bear chooses for its place of resort a den or hole in the earth, or the hollow of a decayed tree, and spends months of its time in this retired retreat. On the approach of winter it becomes torpid, and during this season derives sufficient nourishment for the support of existence from the absorption of the fat which his body accumulates during the summer. It is at this time also that the female produces her young, generally two, though sometimes one only at a birth. Contrary to the usually-received opinion, the young cubs are, from the day of their birth, handsomer than when they are full grown. The mother is most tenderly

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attached to her offspring, and when deprived of them becomes furious and ungovernable. She is in this state adopted by Hosea (xiii. 8) to express the most determined vengeance: "I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart." She is also used to express the same idea in other parts of Scripture. See 2 Sam. xvii. 8; and Prov. xvii. 12.

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The skin of the bear is everywhere considered a valuable fur. The animal is therefore eagerly pursued, and various modes of capturing it are adopted by the inhabitants of different countries and as the pursuit is not unaccompanied with personal danger, it possesses all the attractions of the chase. Its flesh supplies it pursuers with food, and every part of it is applied to some useful or ornamental purpose. Tooke, in his “View of the Russian Empire," thus describes its value to the rude inhabitants of Northern Asia: "It would be difficult to name a species of animal, excepting the sheep, so variously serviceable to man as the bear is after his death to the Kamtschadales. Of the skin of this animal they make bed coverlets, caps, and gloves; and also collars for their sledge

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