Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1831-11-10
THE POL.1R DEy3R.

he following interesting account OF the Polar
Bear Is extracted from iiarpr's Family Library,
a work Astounding m the most useful information
In the caves Of the rocks, or in the
h"llows Of the ice, dwells the most
formidable Of Arctic quadrupeds, the
Greenland or Polar Bear. This fierce
tyrant of the cliffs and SHOWS Of the
north. unites the strength Of the lion
with the untameable ficrceness of the
hyena. A long shaggy covering Of
white soft hair and copious supply
OF tat enables him tn defy the winter OF
this rigorous climate. Under the heat
of Britain he suffers the most painful
sensations. Pennant saw one ,over whom
IT was necessary from time TO time to
pour large pals full Of water. Ano-
Their, Kept by professor Jameson, evil.
IDENTIFY suffered severely by the heat
OF an Edinburgh summer. The haunt
OF the bear is on the dreary Arctic
shores or on mountains Of ice, some.
times two hundred miles from land |;
yet he Is not strictly speaking amphi.
blous. He cannot remain under water
but few moments, aud he reaches his
maritime stations only by swimming
from one icy fragment To another. Mr..
Storesby limits their swimming reach
to three or four miles; yet Parry found
one IN the centre Of Barrow's Strait,
where 1t was 40 miles across. This
bear bowls continually for its prey,
which consists chiefly Of the smaller
cetacea and Of smaller seals. which
unable 60 contend with him, shun their
late by keeping a strict watch, and
plung'ng into the depth Of the waters.
With the Wslrus he holds dreadful
and doubtful encounters, and that
powerful animal. will, his enormous
tusks, frequently beats him OF with
great damage. The whale he dares
not attack, but watches anxiously for
the huge carcass in n dead state. which
affords him a prolonged and delicious
feast he scents IL at the distance Of
miles. All these sources Of supply
being precarious. he is left for weeks
without food, and the fury of his hun
ger then becomes tremendous. At
such periods, man. viewed BY him al
ways n bis prey, IS attacked with pc
cu!iar herCeness.
The annals of the north are flied
with accounts Of the most perllous and
fatal conflicts Of tho Polar Bear
The first and one of the most tragical,
vas sustained by Bsrvntz and Heems-
kerke. in 1896, during the voyage for
the discovery Of the north. east pas
sage. Having anchored at an island
near the strait Of Waygatz, two Of the
sailors landed and were walking on
the shore, when one Of them felt him
self closely Rugged from behind. -
Thinking this froIie Of one Of his
companions, he called out ia a cores
ponding tone. who's there; pray
stand or" His eomrade looked, aud
screamed out "a bear a bear.'' then
running to the ship alarmed the crew
with loud cries. The sailors ran 70
the spot armed with pixies aud mus
kets. Tn their approach the bear very
coOlly quilted tie msnglcd corpse,
sprang upon another sailor, carried
him on, and pluDging his teeth into his
body. began drinking his blood ct long
draughts. IIrreUpon ihe whole II the
stout crew. strutk with terror. torned
their back. and fed precIplIateiy to
tho ship. 90 arriving there they be.
gan IN look ~ zach other. unable o.
/ feel much satisiac ton With thsIr own