NINTH ANNUAL REPORT. 83 
Description of the Species.——This is a bear of small size, much 
below the dimensions and weight of the average black bear 
(Ursus americanus). In general appearance its skin is like that 
of a long-furred and particularly handsome polar bear. Its color 
is clear, creamy white, with no trace of brown, black, or any 
other dark color. In the type specimen, on the upper neck and 
head, and on the forelegs, the yellowish creamy tint is well 
defined. The hair is all white, down to the roots; and on the 
entire animal there is not one brown or black hair. 
The ears are very small, and the hair upon them is short and 
rather straight. 
The pelage of the type specimen is very long, fine, abundant, 
and in places of silky softness. The hair grows in tufts, and 
both in quality and manner of growth it distinctly resembles the 
pelage of the Alaskan brown bears, rather than the shorter, 
smoothly-trimmed coat of the black bear. The basal half of the 
pelage is very fine, woolly and warm, and only the tip of the 
terminal portion is straightened out to form the rain-coat. Only 
on the forehead, muzzle and lower portions of the limbs does 
the hair grow short, and develop the straight and stiff character 
that is necessary, at those points, for the comfort of the animal. 
The pelage on the two young specimens consists of a dense coat 
of fine, woolly hair, through which appears a scattering growth 
of long, straight hairs. Both these skins are everywhere creamy 
white. 
The claws are dull white, thin, and strongly curved, repre- 
senting about 120° of a perfect circle, 17g inches in diameter 
for the middle front claw. 
The teeth differ widely from those of the polar bear, and indi- 
cate relationship to the American black bear, (Ursus americanus). 
The dental formula is as follows: 
- 2 iS = = 
Incisors om ; Canines = ; Premolars 353 ; Molars os) 
Sis) I-I ie) Sis 
MEASUREMENTS. 
No. 1.—Type specimen. Flat skin of an adult female. 
Length of skin, end of nose to root of tail....... 54.50 in. 
Length across forelegs, base to base of claws.... 46.50 “ 
Width of skin across middle of body........... ZALOOns 
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