I04 Game of Europe, W. Sc N. Asia & America 



of the cheek-arches being approximated to the occiput. In young in- 

 dividuals the top of the skull is flattened, but in full-grown animals it 

 rises abruptly at the sockets ot the eves, to become convex above the 

 brain-case. The last lower premolar tooth lacks the anterior inner cusp. 

 Dr. Merriam regards this bear as most nearly related to the Alaskan form 

 ot the grizzly, from which, however, it is markedly distinct. 



THE POLAR BEAR 



( Ursus maritimus) 



(Plate II. Fig. 5) 



That the white bear of the north polar regions is an animal that has 

 exchanged the dark livery of its fellows for a dress to accord with the 

 eternal snow and ice ot its northern home may be regarded as an indisput- 

 able tact. It would, however, be quite erroneous to suppose that this 

 animal is merely a brown or a black bear, or a near relative of one or the 

 other, that has adapted itself to the exigencies of an Arctic existence. On 

 the contrarv, the white bear ditl^'ers so remarkably in the form and pro- 

 portions ot its skull and cheek-teeth that it must undoubtedly have 

 branched oti trom the common ursine stock at a comparatively distant 

 epoch. So dilTerent indeed is the animal in these respects that by many 

 naturalists it is regarded as entitled to represent a distinct generic type by 

 itself, under the name of 'llidlarctiis^ or more correctly Thahissarctus. 

 Such a wide separation from its kindred does not, however, appear 

 necessary, and it seems preferable to use the last-named title in a subgeneric 

 rather than a generic sense. On this view the full title of the animal will 

 be Ursus [i/ialassarctus) maritimus. It may be added that a suggestion was 

 made in 1899 that the proper specific title of the white bear is marinus 



