Walks in and Around London

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1884 edition. Excerpt: ... shallow grave, put the man in, and covered him with earth. After a while the hunter wriggles out of his unpleasant situation and makes his escape. The Polar Bear is quite as large and fierce as the grisly. Its head is flat, its neck rather long, and its fur beautifully smooth and white. It lives on the shores surrounding the North Pole, where it pursues seals both in the water and on the ice, lying flat, as we see it in the picture, to watch for an opportunity to spring on its prey. The common or Brown Bear was at one time a native of the British Islands; and many were caught and carried to Rome, for the cruel sports in which the Romans delighted. Private gentlemen, and even the nobility, used also to keep them in pits, to get amusement by watching them fight with dogs which were shut in the pit with them. God has so made Bruin that, like other animals, he has not much difficulty in satisfying his wants. His feet are armed with terrible curved claws, with which he can tear a carcase, dig up the earth for roots, or climb a tree. And the Polar bear also has the soles of his feet covered with hair, which helps him to walk firmly and without slipping on the ice. Bruin's teeth and his digestive organs are adapted to the food he eats. Nothing comes amiss to him. He likes a snack of fish, or a potato, or an apple; he will visit a farmyard to get his leg of mutton or piece of pork, or make his way to some garden to dig his own vegetables. But perhaps his greatest delight is to climb a tree to enjoy a dip into and lick his lips over the honey which the wild bees provide. We make good use of him when dead. His skin is valued for making fur cloaks, caps, &c.; his flesh is used as food, bear paws being considered very nice; and the fat makes...