3o6 MAMMALIA. 



Genus MELURSUS. 



Melursus, Meyer Uebers. neust. Zool. Entdeck., p. 155, (1793)*. 

 VvochWxxs, Illiger Prodr., p. 109 (i8ii). 



Melursus ursinus. 



Bradypus ursinus, Shaw and Nodder Naiur.Miscell., ii,pl.lviii (1791) ; id' 



Genl. Zool., i, pt. 1, p 159. 

 Melursus lybius, Meyer Uebers. neust. Zool. Entdeck., p. ISS ('793)* J 



Gray Cat. Hodgs. Coll., 1st ed., p. 15. 

 Prochilus ursinus, Illiger Prod?., p. 109(1811). 

 Ursus labiatus, Blainville Bull. Soc. Philom., p. 74 (1817)*; Sykes P.Z. S., 



1831, p. 100 ; Elliot Madras Journ., x, p. lOO ; Tickell talc. Journ. N. H., 



if P« I99i P'- '^''i; Blyth Cat. no. 227, p. 77 j Jerdon Mamrn., p. 72; 



McMaster Notes on Jerdon, p. 12 ; Stoliczka J. A. S. B., xli, p. 226 ; 



Atkinson N.-W. P. Gazett., xi, p. 11 •,Sterndale Mamm.Ind., p. 119. 

 Ursus longirostris, Tiedemann Abhandl., p. 4 (1820)*. 

 Prochilus labiatus.Gyaj Ann. Philos., p. 60 (1825)* ; Kelaart Prodr. Faun. 



Zeylan., p. 34. 

 Ursus inornatus, Pucker an Rev. Mag. Zool., (2), vii, p. 392 (1855). 

 Melursus labiatus, Gray Cat. Cam. Mamm., p. 237 (1869). 

 Melursus ursinus, Blanford Mammals, p. 201 (iT""' 



The Sloth Bear ; Aswail, Mahrathi ; Kaddi, Canarese ; Rinch, 

 Deccani ; Oosa, Cingalese ; Ballu Riksha, Sanskrit ; Reech, 

 Hindustani ; Bhalu, Bhaluk, Bengali ; Yerid, Gonds ; Banna, Kols ; 

 Elugu, Telegu. 



Distribution. — Over the whole Peninsula of India and Ceylon 

 (Kelaart). It is apparently found in Cutch but not in Sind or in the 

 Himalayas, eastwards it extends to Lower Bengal and apparently 

 to Assam. 



The Indian Bear is very distinct from the other bears, both in 

 its distribution and its morphological characteristics. It is confined 

 to the Peninsula of India strictly speaking, while the other Indian 

 bears are all extra-peninsular ; it is distinguished from the other 

 Indian bears by its very elongated snout ; by its very small cheek- 

 teeth and by its concave and curved palate. 



Of the two fossil bears found in India, one Ursus theobaldi 

 from the Siwaliks [Pal. Ind. (20), ii, p. 211] is distinctly allied to 

 Melursus ursinus. 



a. Skin No history. 



b. Skin No history. 



c. Skin, skelet. W. Rutledge. 



juv. $ 



rf. Stuffed, juv. W. Rutledge. 



e. Skull $ Umsuing nr. Shillong, J. Cockburn. 

 Assam. 



/. Skeleton No history, A.S.B. 



g.. Skull R. C. Beavan, 1864, A.S.B. 



h. Skull Dr. McCosh, A.S.B. 



