CHAPTER XVI. 



THE BEARS. 



laS BEAK»— THE TOt-UL BKJLt. — TVCS ^O'tTS SE.A&— THE SYKIAN BEAK— THE AXEUCAN BEAKS — 

 THE 3tJlL.CS. BEAS.— THE GUZZLY BEAS.— THE BOSXEAN StTS BEAK— IBB SLOTH OK LIFfSD BKAK — 

 THE SOCTH AXSStlCCS OBL STSCTACLXD SEAS. 



THE fiunily UR5tD-E, comprisdng the Bears, has a tolerably \\"ide 

 distribution : thev are absent from Australia and Southern and 

 Tropical Anica. and only one species is found in South America. 

 They are the largest and most powerfiil of American and European 

 Camivora. Considerable uncertaintr still prevails respecting the 

 generic classification of the bears : vre shall follow Wallace, who divides 

 them into ^ve genera or sub-genera, and fifteen species. 



A glancx; at the teeth of the members of this fcimily shows that they 

 are onuuvorous, and more inclined to a vegetable than to an animal diet : 

 b«K:e it is probable that their ferocity is exaggerated, for although they 

 exhibit d€^)erate courage in defending themselves, they seldom seem 

 aggressive. The brain of the bear is highly developed, and they are 

 consequently possessed of considerable intelligence, and soon learn all 

 kinds of accomplishments. Their walk is plantigrade, that is, they place 

 the whole sole of the ioot on the ground ; they progress at a rapid rate, 

 and soon overtake a man : they can climb and swim excellently : their 

 sense of smeQ is very acute. When attacked they stand upright, and 

 strike with their fiar^jaws, which carry long and sharp claws, they p>arry 

 neatly, and are remarkably dangerous irozn the fearful energy they dis- 

 play in the very last moments of life. 



I.-GEXV5 THALASSARCTOS. 



The Polar Bear, T. :■:: :'::as maritimus 'Plate XXIf, is the only 

 representative of the genus. It is almost entirely carnivorous, its food 



