t^t <Bn33fg 



were described as new. It was not then suspected 

 that the number remaining to be discovered was 

 anything like so great as has since proved to be the 

 case. The steady influx of specimens resulting from 

 the labors of the Biological Survey, supplemented 

 by the personal efforts of a number of hunter- 

 naturalists, brought to light many surprises, most 

 of which have been published; and beginning in 

 the spring of 1910, a fund placed at my disposal 

 made it possible to offer hunters and trappers 

 sufficient inducement to tempt them to exert them- 

 selves in securing needed specimens. As a result, the 

 national collection of bears has steadily grown un- 

 til, in number of species represented, in complete- 

 ness of series, and in number cf type specimens, 

 it now far excels all other collections in the world 

 together. 



" Nevertheless there are many gaps in the series. 

 Knowledge of the big bears is by no means com- 

 plete and many years must pass before the last word 

 on the subject will be written. Many bears now 

 roaming the wilds will have to be killed and their 

 skulls and skins sent to museums before their char- 

 acters and variations will be fully understood and 

 before it will be possible to construct accurate maps 



258 



