428 Game of Europe, W. & N. Asia & America 



THE AMERICAN BLACK BEAR 



( Ursus amcricanus) 



(Plate VIII. Fig. 13) 



From the various representatives of Ursus arctus it might be thought 

 that the present species would be sufficiently distinguished by its colour. 

 But although in the great majority of instances this is black, it is by no 

 means invariably so, and there are cinnamon-coloured or " yellow black, 

 bears" of this species. Other characters have, therefore, to be sought in 

 order to distinguish this well-marked species, which is very widely 

 different from all the bears here grouped under the name ot Ursus arctus, 

 whether they be regarded as species or as local races. 



From all the brown bears the present species, in addition to its typically 

 black colour, is distinguished externally by its shorter, smoother, and more 

 glossy fur, by the moderate size ot the front claws, which do not much 

 exceed those of the hind -feet in length, and especially by the relative 

 shortness of the hind-teet. The head also seems to be proportionately 

 smaller, and the profile of the face is said to be more regularly convex. 

 Again, the species never attains anything like the dimensions of some of 

 the brown bears, seldom exceeding 5 feet in total length. 



Even more important are the characters afforded by the cheek-teeth, 

 which are relatively small. Among these may be mentioned the last 

 lower premolar, which is much smaller in proportion to the others than 

 in U. arctus, and also lacks the two tubercles on the inner side which are 

 so characteristic of that species. Equally important are the characters 

 afforded by the tooth immediately behind the one just mentioned, that 

 is to say, the lower carnassial. But as it is difficult to explain these 

 without the aid of figures, the reader who desires further information on 



