Natural History.

Otago Witness, Volume 15, Issue 1562, 15 October 1881, Page 27

Natural History.

NOTES FOB THE YOUNG.-FLESH-EATING ANIMALS.- Continued.

By Uncle David.

The brown bear is suoh an Interesting animal that I cannot resist the temptation to tell you something more about him in this letter. These animals supply the Eamtchatkans with all the necessaries of life. The Bkin forms their beds and blankets, caps for their heads, gloveß for their hands, collar* for their dogs, and overalls whioh are drawn over their shoes, to prevent them slipping on the ioe. Their sweet morsels consist of the fat and the flesh of the bear. They even use the Intestines as a substitute for glasß in their windows, while the shoulder blades are used for cutting grass. The Laplanders hold this animal in great veneration, calling It ' the dog of God ' There was a proverb long current among the Norwegians, that the bear has the strength of ten men, and the Bense of twelve. They never dare to speak of him by his popular name, lest he should revenge the insult on their flocks ; so when they have ocoasion to speak of him, they call him ' the old man with the fur cloak.' A Laplander having discovered the retreat of a bear, will sometimes take his dog, who, by the way, has his jaws bound with a cord to prevent him barking. Another cord is fastened to his collar, and the Lap holds the other end of it in his hand. As soon as the dog smells the bear, he shows signs of unensiness, and makes ineffectual attempts at barking. The Lap now makes his approaoh, so that the wind may blow from the bear to him, for the animal would discern him by the scent, though blinded£by the glare of the sun. When the Lap has advanced to within gunshot of the bear, he fires. Should he miss his aim, the bear will instantly charge him with great rage. The hunter now takes to his heels, for his very life, but doeß not forget to drop his knapßack on the spot where he stood. The bear coming up to this, bites and tears it into ehreads. While thus employed, the Lap reloads and generally succeeds in dropping him with the second shot. But bear hunting in the North is often aB full of excitement and peril, as tiger hunting is in the East. On one of these occasions referred to, a bear, a tremendous animal, was attaoked by a number of hunters. His temper, at best not very good, had been somewhat ruffled by ten shots lodged in different parts of his body, and all present entrenched themselves, awaiting some desperate effort on his part, should not a lucky shot settle Ww, By-and-by one of thi men,

bolder than his companions, advanced before them, the bear immediately rußhed upon him, tore the gun from his grasp, and attacked him with his powerful olaws. The poor fellow was, of course, unequal to a struggle with such an assailant, and already his blood was flowing fast. A young Norlander, unable to look quietly on, rushed to his assistance. In addition to his own risk, there was great diffioulty In getting a shot at the bear without hitting the man. As the young man advanced, the bear rose up to meet him, and his victim dropped at his feet. Seizing the opportunity, the young man raised his gun high above his head, to bring It on a level with the bear's, . and, trusting to feeling more than sight, discharged his piece ; and the suooesa deserved by a brave man attended the Norlander, for the ball passed through the bear's brain, and thus both men were saved.

I could tell you many stories of a similar character, but I think It will be more entertaining to diversify the anecdotes, and also more instructive, for by so doing you .will bo able to see Mr Bruin In his different characters. I will therefore give you another description. In Kamtohatka— a Peninsula in the east of Siberia— the bears live chiefly upon fish, whioh they catch in the rivers and inletf* Some years ago the fish became very soaroe, when, made bold by hunger, the bears, Instead of retiring for their winter sleep, wandered about, and even entered the villages. One day a bear having entered a village, found the front door of a house wide open. The bear entered. He must have touched the door In passing, for it oloßed after him. The good lady of the house* had just put on the hob a kettle of boiling water. This the bear smelt, and of course burnt his nose. Provoked at the pain, he grasped the kettle with both paws, and tried to crush it against his breast, only, you may be sure, to be more severely burnt. , His horrible growling from rage and pain, soon brought a orowd of neighbours to the apot, and a few shots soon ended his troubles. But to this day, when any one injures him* self by his own violence, the villagers call him, ' the bear and the teakettle.'

In some countries bears are often domestl* oated, and Mr Lloyd speaks of one that was so tame that his master, a peasant, used often to make him stand on the back part of his sledge when on a journey j and bruin kept bo good abalanoe that It was almost impossible to upset him. . One day, however, the peasant amused himself by driving ovef the roughest ground he could find, in order* if possible, to, upset the bear. Bruin beoama so irritated, that he lifted his great paw, and gave his master a tremendous thwack over the shoulder. The man was so frightened all this that he ordered him to ' ba? shot at onoe. • ■ . I will conclude this letter with another aneodote, which shows a very pleaiant trait to the character of this animal : — ' Leopold, Duke of Lorraine, had* a bear called Maroo, of whose remarkable qualities, the following is an interesting instance :— A Savoyard boy, ready to perish with the oold of winter to a barn in whioh he had been plaoed by a kind* hearted woman, entered Marco's hat, thoughtless of the danger he inourred by so doing. The bear, however, instead of injuring the child, took him between hit paws, and warmed him by pressing him to hit breast till next morning, when he; suffered him to depart on his ramble about the city* The young Savoyard returned to the even* ing, and was received by Maroo with the same affection. For several days he had no other retreat ; and It added not a little to his joy to find that the bear regularly reserved for him a portion of his food. Several days passed without the Duke's servants knowing these oiroumstanoes. At- length, when one brought the bear his supper rather later than usual, he was astonished to se> the animal roll his eyes furiously, and seeming desirous of making as little noise as possible, lest the boy, who was now observed to be olasped to his breast, should be suddenly awakened. The bear, though ravenous, did not appear the leaßt moved with the food whioh was plaoed before him. The report of suoh extraordinary oircumatanoes was soon spread at court, and Leopold, with some of his courtiers, was anxious to know if it were true that Maroo was thus careful and generous. Several of them, therefore, watched him during the night, and saw with astonishment that the bear did not stir solong as his guest showed an inclination to sleep. At break of day the ohlld awoke, was very muoh ashamed to find that he was discovered, and fearing that he would be punished for his temerity, supplicated pardon. The bear, however, caressed him and endeavoured to prevail on him to eat what had been brought it the night before, whioh he did at the request of the spectators, who afterwards conducted him into the presence of the Duke. Having listened to the history of this singular alliance, Leopold ordered that care should be taken of the little Savoyard, who doubtlesß would soon have made his fortune, had he not died a short time after.

la my next I will describe the black bear, and endeavour to amuse and instrtfot yon with the account of some of his singular habits.

(To be continued.)