1894.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHIIiADELPHIA. 119 



ON THE TRUE CHARACTER AND RELATIONSHIPS 

 OF URSUS CINNAMOMEUS Aud. and Bach. 



BY ARTHUR ERWIN BROWN. 



The origiual descriptiou of Ursus americaiius var. ciniK/momnvi^ 

 was based by Audubon and Bachman mainly upon fur-traders' 

 skins, and in the accompanying plate the animals were figured from 

 living specimens seen by Audubon in the Garden of the Zoological 

 Society of London. 



They characterize the species, briefly, thus : " Form and size of 

 the common American black bear, of which it is a permanent 

 variety. Color above, a dark cinnamon brown ; nose and a fringe 

 of hairs covering the claws yellow; " and regarding its range, they 

 sav "sparingly found in the fur countries west and north of the 

 Missouri, extending to the barren grounds of the northwest. " 



In the absence of all cranial and dental characters in their des- 

 cription, it has usually been supposed that their animals were nothing 

 more than examples of the well-known brown phase of Ursus ameri- 

 canu.% notwithstanding the fact that in their description of the latter 

 species (/. c. p. 188) the authors show that they were familiar 

 with its brown form and correctly estimated its position. 



Specimens have recently come under my observation which ap- 

 pear to show what Audubon and Bachmau's bear really was. and 

 that it is well distinguished from the form with which it has for so 

 long been confounded. 



The history of the material on which these conclusions are based 

 is as follows: — In December, 1873, a male bear was received at the 

 Garden of the Zoological Society of Philadelphia, from Ogden, Utah, 

 which presented striking features of color and physiognomy when 

 compared with the already known species of American bear. This 

 specimen has always been associated in my mind with Audubon and 

 Bachmau's description, above quoted, but he is still living and the 

 impossibility of making a detailed examination of his skull has 

 hitherto prevented any definite conclusions from being reached. In 

 1884 a captive bear came to my notice at Green River, Wyoming, 



1 Quad, of North America, 1854, Vol. Ill, p. 125, PI. CXXVII. 



