S^O CAKXnORA. 



thing of an epicure, and often admitted to his master's table, the Bruang 

 would refuse to eat an\- fruit except mangostecns, or to drink any wine 

 except champagne. It may seem remarkable that a bear slioukl display 

 any predilection for fermented liquids, and more so that it should be so 

 fastidious as to select champagne as the wine which it honored with its 

 preference. Such, however, was the case, and the animal was so fondly 

 attached to the champagne-bottle, that the absence of his favorite liquid 

 was the only circumstance that would make him lose his temper. His 

 afl'ectionate disposition led him to extend his friendship to various of his 

 acquaintances, and he was on such excellent terms with the entire house- 

 hold, that he would meet on equal footing the cat, the dog, and a small 

 Lory, or Blue-mountain bird, and amicably feed with these domestic 

 favorites from the same dish. 



One of these bears that was successfully domesticated was able to 

 eat animal as well as vegetable food, but was fed exclusively on bread 

 and milk, of which it consumed rather more than ten pounds per diem. 

 It is possessed of much flexibility of body, and is very fond of sitting on 

 itf. hind legs, thrusting out its long tongue to an extraordinar}' distance, 

 and ever and anon withdrawing it into the mouth with a peculiar snap- 

 ping sound. While thus engaged, it makes the most grotesque and 

 singular gestures with the fore-limbs, and rolls its body from side to side 

 with unceasing assiduity. 



IV.— GENUS PROCHILUS. 



The one species of this genus is found from the Ganges to Ceylon, and 

 is characterized by a short thick body, short limbs, and large feet armed 

 with enormous sickle-shaped claws. It is usually found in the mountains, 

 and is equally dreaded and admired by the natives. 



The Sloth Bear, Prochilus (or Mdursus) labiaUis (Plate XXIV), is 

 nearly five feet long. Its flat, low-browed head is prolonged into a nar- 

 row-pointed proboscis-like snout of very peculiar construction, and the 

 nostrils and lips are very mobile ; the latter can be so protruded and 

 contracted that they form a kind of pipe nearly as useful as a trunk. 

 Through this lip-pipe the long, thin, flat tongue is constantly shot out, so 

 that the animal can draw things near it, and then suck them up. The 

 hair is very long, of a deep black color with some brownish hairs, and a 



