. The popular natural history . Zoology. 9^ THE POLAR BEAR. submarine journeys so well, that when it ascends to the surface for the last time, it is in close proximity to the slumbering seal. The fate of the unfor^ tunate victim is now settled, for it cannot take refuge in the water without falling into the clutches of its pursuer, and if it endeavours to escape by land it is speedily overtaken and destroyed by the swifter-footed Bear. So powerful an animal as the Polar Bear must necessarily be very dangerous when considered in the light of a foe. Sometimes it runs away as soon as it sees or s
. The popular natural history . Zoology. 9^ THE POLAR BEAR. submarine journeys so well, that when it ascends to the surface for the last time, it is in close proximity to the slumbering seal. The fate of the unfor^ tunate victim is now settled, for it cannot take refuge in the water without falling into the clutches of its pursuer, and if it endeavours to escape by land it is speedily overtaken and destroyed by the swifter-footed Bear. So powerful an animal as the Polar Bear must necessarily be very dangerous when considered in the light of a foe. Sometimes it runs away as soon as it sees or smells a human being, but at others it is extremely malicious, and will attack a man without any apparent reason. As is the case with nearly all the Bears, it is very tenacious of life, and even when pierced with many wounds, will fight in the most desperate manner, employing both teeth and claws in the combat, and only yielding the struggle with its life. The colour of the Nennook's fur is a silvery white, tinged with a slight yellow hue, rather variable in different individuals. Even in specimens that were confined in the Zoological Gardens there was a perceptible difference in. POLAR BEAR.—{Thalarctos mariiimus.) the tint of their fur, the coat of one of them being of a purer white than that of the other. The yellowish tinge which has been just mentioned is very similar to the creamy yellow hue which edges the ermine's fur. The feet are armed with strong claws of no very great length, and but slightly curved, rheir colour is black, so that they form a very bold contrast with the white fur that falls over the feet. Even at a considerable distance, and by means of its mere outline, the Polar Bear may be distinguished from every other member of the Bear tribe by its peculiar shape. The neck is. although extremely powerful, very long in proportion to the remainder of the body, and the head is so small and sharp that there is a very snake-like aspect about that portion of the an
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
