Merriam — Nineteen New Bears from Western America. 139 



frontal shield somewhat broader, much more highly arched, much more 

 swollen over orbits, much more deeply sulcata medially, shorter and more 

 acutely pointed posteriorly; postorbitals smaller and more decurved; 

 fronto-nasal region strongly dished ; rostrum more depressed ; nares 

 more truncate; last upper molar of normal form, large, and with long 

 posteriorly rounded heel, differing widely from the short, broad-in-the- 

 middle, obliquely truncate tooth of nuchek. 



Skull measurements ( (^ old, type). — Basal length 357 mm.; occipito- 

 nasal length 354; palatal length 199; zygomatic breadth 244; interorbital 

 breadth 97. 



Ursus eximius sp. nov. 



Type No. 122495 (^ adult, U. S. National Museum. From head of 

 Knik Arm, Cook Inlet, Alaska. Received from G. W. Palmer in 1903 

 (killed by a native). 



Characters. — Size rather large; color uniform rich dark brown, suggest- 

 ing seal brown; muzzle brown, paler than rest of head; back of head 

 and neck lightly sprinkled with pale-tipped hairs; claws of medium 

 thickness, only slightly curved, decidedly short, probably from wear, 

 smooth, very dark horn color, becoming paler on sides toward tip. 

 Skull long and narrow, with narrow highly arched frontals. Related to 

 kidderi. 



Cranial characters. — Adult male (the type): Skull long, extremely 

 narrow in fronto-nasal region, rather highly arched and strongly dished. 

 Frontal shield exceedingly narrow, convex, shallowly sulcate medially, 

 strongly arched anteriorly, horizontal posteriorly, long-pointed, the point 

 nearly reaching fronto-parietal suture; postorbital processes slender, peg- 

 like, moderately outstanding ; naso-frontal region strongly dished ; rostrum 

 long, narrow, high, compressed between nasals and canine roots; 

 zygomata moderately outstanding, subtriangular ; palate long and narrow ; 

 postpalatal shelf relatively broad; notch rather broad; mastoids long, 

 strongly divergent ; underjaw long, moderately massive, the ramus broad 

 vertically; coronoid blade rather broad, the apex not strongly recurved; 

 teeth of medium size; M* with rather long heel, not much narrowed 

 posteriorly; M' relatively large and broad; PM4 a single cone without 

 distinct heel but sulcate posteriorly. 



Adult female (No. 205176) /row type locality: Skull long and narrow; 

 vault of cranium moderately arched, the highest part forming a hump at 

 fronto-parietal suture; frontal shield narrow, flattish, sulcate medially, 

 the point reaching fronto-parietal suture; postorbitals weak, subtriangular, 

 not decurved; fronto-nasal region moderately dished; rostrum narrow, 

 compressed between nasals and canine roots; zygomata moderately 

 spreading, subtriangular; postpalatal shelf relatively broad; notch 

 moderate; inferior border of ramus convex from plane of front molar 

 posteriorly; coronoid blade broad and low. 



Cranial comparisons. — Ursus eximius appears to be related to only a 

 single species, Ursus kidderi of Alaska Peninsula. Adult male (No. 

 122495, the type) /row Knik Arm, compared with a series of kidderi from 



