394 



ORDEES OF MAMMALIA. 



Hyaynarctos, which commences in the Miocene. Species of 

 Hywnardos are found in the Miocene of France, and in the 

 Tertiary deposits of the Siwalik Hills in India, and also in 

 the Pliocene of Europe and South America, so that the range 

 of the genus is very extensive. The Miocene genus Amphi- 

 cyon, though resembling the Bears in being plantigrade and 

 a climber, is best considered as an aberrant member of the 

 Ganidce. The Arctothermm of the late Tertiary deposits of 

 South America seems to be related to the living " Spectacled 

 Bear " of Chili ; and the existing genus Ursus is represented 

 in tlie Pliocene of Europe and India, one of the best known 

 forms being the Ursvs Arvcrncnsis of France. In the Post- 

 Tertiary period the two most important species are the Ursus 

 priscus and Ursus spdmus, of which the former is apparently 

 identical with the living Grizzly Bear {Ursus ferox). The 

 Cave-bear {Ursus spelceus, fig. 674) is a gigantic Bear, which, 



Fig. 674. — Skull of Ursxis s-pelcns. Post-Pliocene. 



as its name implies, has been found mainly in cavern-deposits. 

 The size of this species considerably exceeded that of any 

 existing Bear, and it is especially characteristic of the later 

 portion of the Post-Pliocene period. 



More or less nearly allied to the true Bears are the little 

 living animals which are known as Coatis {Nasua), Eacoons 

 {Procyon), and Kinkajous {Ccrcolcptes), all of which at the 

 present day are confined to the American continent. Tlie 

 Lcptarchus of the Pliocene of North America is the oldest 

 Ursine type known in this continent, and seems to be allied 



