For #WorldBearDay: the usual story in the #medieval #bestiary tells of #bear cubs being born as shapeless lumps, which the mother must then “lick into shape” (yes that’s the origin of that expression!).

France, c. 1450, MMW 10 B 25 folio 11v: https://bestiary.ca/beasts/beastgallery171.htm

(via ‪@art_history_animalia@historians.social‬)