THE LABIATKD BEAR. 83 



tivo, and perhaps be inclined to receive with incredulity our 

 assertion, that their curiosity, with respect to this singular 

 animal, still remains to be gratified, 



But the fact is, that the animal, which is exhibited as the 

 sloth in the travelling menageries, is the bear now under con- 

 sideration ; and we are not aware that either of the true 

 species of sloth, which are peculiar to South America, has 

 hitherto been brought alive to this country. 



It is further remarkable, that the mistake of calling this 

 species of bear a sloth, did not originate with an ignorant 

 showman, whose interest it might be to deceive, but was com- 

 mitted by a scientific naturalist, who, however, in his ex- 

 amination of this animal, appears to have been guided by 

 the letter, rather than inspired by the spirit of his great 

 master Linnaeus. In the Naturalist's Miscellany, vol. ii., 

 Dr. Shaw observes, u In its habit or general appearance it 

 has a striking resemblance to the common bear; and it has 

 even been considered a species of bear by some naturalists. 

 Its teeth, however, and the peculiar formation of its claws, 

 with several other particulars, absolutely forbid it to be any 

 longer considered as a species of Ursus." In what consists 

 the peculiar formation of the claws, Dr. Shaw does not inform 

 us, neither does he say more about the other particulars; but 

 finding no trace of incisors, he referred his new animal to the 

 order Bruta, in utter disregard of every other character save 

 that which corresponded to the Linnaean phrase, "dentes pri- 

 mores nulli utrinque" (primary teeth none in either jaw). 

 From the length of its claws, which, however, in this respect 

 do not differ from those of many other species of bear ; and 

 probably also from the nature of its covering, and compara- 

 tively naked face, it was arranged with the genus of sloths, 

 and entered in the Systematic Catalogue under the name of 

 Brady pus ur sinus, — the ursine, or ursiform sloth. 



This new addition to one of the most remarkable genera 

 of quadrupeds, soon attracted the attention of the continental 

 naturalists ; and although the false character with which our 

 species had been invested, probably prevented the amount of 

 its affinities to the bear being appreciated, yet the necessity 

 of dissociating it from the sloths was soon perceived. It was 

 accordingly at first supposed to be a new genus of qua- 

 drupeds, and was called Prochilus, from a Greek word sig- 

 nifying 'long-lipped;' but soon afterwards was recognised 

 as a true bear. 



In size this species is about the eighth part smaller than the 

 Alpine bear ; when young, and before the hairs have acquired 

 their extreme length, it is seen to stand rather high upon its 



g2 



