112 



MAMMALIA — BEAR. 



nothing in common with the family of the sloths, but is a genuine bear. 

 This curious quadruped is said to have been brought from the interior part 

 of Bengal, where it burrows in the ground. It is covered with black, shasr. 

 gy hair, which on the back is twelve inches long, where it divides and 

 forms a kind of bunch. The hair on its head is short, and the snout is 

 of a yellowish white. The tail is so short as to be scarcely visible Its 

 lips are thin and very long, and furnished with muscles, by which it can 

 protrude them in a most singular manner. Its legs and feet resemble those 

 of the common bear, and on each foot it has five long, crooked, white claws, 

 which it uses either together or separately, like fingers to break its food, 

 and convey it to the mouth. It has no cutting teeth, but two very strong 

 canine teeth, and six grinders in each jaw. 



It is a gentle but sluggish animal, and feeds on bread, fruit, nuts, honey, 

 or fat ; but refuses roots, and the lean and muscular parts of flesh. In 

 general, its motions are slow and languid ; but when disturbed or irritated 

 it appears rather lively, and utters a kind of short, abrupt roar 



THE BORNEAN BEAR. 1 



In one point, this native of Borneo differs strikingly from the other bears. 

 Its head, instead of being flattened, is nearly hemispherical above, rising in 

 a strong arch, immediately behind its obtuse and gradually attenuated nose. 

 Its mouth is very expansible, and has a long, narrow, extensile tongue, 

 which the owner can protrude nearly a foot, and then curve spirally in- 

 wards ; a process which it frequently performs. The claws are very long, 



1 Ursus malaianus, Horsf. 



