Game Animals of India, etc. 



lip is whitish, and in others the nose, and, it is stated, 

 also the paws, may be rusty brown. Unlike that of 

 the snow-bear, the fur at all seasons is short and com- 

 paratively harsh, although sometimes showing a waved 

 appearance. On the withers, indeed, it is somewhat 

 longer, this being most marked in the winter coat, 

 when the appearance of a low hump is given. There 

 is no wholly under-fur at the base of the hairs. The 

 rather large ears are fringed with elongated hairs, and 

 the comparatively short but curved and strong claws 

 are black. As a rule, this species seems to be larger 

 and heavier than the snow-bear, although not attaining 

 the maximum length of the latter, and it is larger than 

 the sloth-bear of the plains. An old male has been 

 recorded to measure 6 feet 5 inches in length from the 

 muzzle to the root of the tail ; but ordinary examples 

 run from about 5 feet 6 inches to as little as 4 feet 

 8 inches in length, exclusive of the 3-inch tail. From 

 200 to 250 pounds is given as the usual weight, but 

 this is probably exceeded by old animals in autumn. 



Although it is unnecessary to refer in detail to the 

 characters of the skull, it may be mentioned that the 

 median ridge on the hind half of the upper surface is 

 less developed than in skulls of the Himalayan brown 

 bear, and that the profile forms a more regular curve, 

 the abrupt descent in the region of the eyes characteristic 

 of the latter being absent. 



The range of the Himalayan black bear extends 

 from the confines of Persia through Baluchistan, the 

 Khirtar range on the western border of Sind, and 

 Afghanistan to the forest -regions of the Himalaya, 

 whence it is continued into Assam, Mergui, and Pegu, 

 and thence to the south of China, Hainan, etc. There 

 are' statements as to the occurrence of this bear in the 

 plains of Assam and Lower Bengal, but these (especially 

 in regard to Bengal) require confirmation. Information 

 is also required as to the limits of its range in the 

 forest-regions of the Himalaya, although this probably 



380 



