THE EXTINCT CAVE- BEAR 613 



The spectacled bear of the Peruvian Andes ( Ursus pinatus) , which 

 i ? B is the sole representative of the family inhabiting South America, is a 



small-sized black species, which derives its name from the tawny rings 

 or semicircles round the eyes, whereby a most grotesque appearance is communi- 

 cated to the whole physiognomy. The jaws, cheeks, throat, and chest are white ; 

 and the whole length of the animal is only about three and one-half feet. It has 

 been generally considered that this bear is nearly related to the next species ; but, 

 although specimens have been exhibited in the London Zoological Society's Gar- 

 dens, little or no information exists as to its habits in the native state. 



The small black Malayan bear ( Ursus malayanus} is a very well- 

 _ marked species, distinguished by its small and rounded ears, covered 



with short hair, its much elongated and almost prehensile tongue, its 

 very short and wide molar teeth, and the shortness and breadth of the skull, in which 

 the nose is but slightly produced. The claws are considerably curved, and pale in 

 color. The fur of this species is very short and coarse, and is mostly black, 

 although tending to brown in some parts ; the whole of the muzzle is paler, or 

 whitish, and the light band on the chest varies from white to orange, and is subject 

 to considerable diversity of form, sometimes extending as a streak on to the under 

 part of the body. The general length of the head and body is only about four feet, 

 and, according to Mr. Blauford, never exceeds four and one-half feet. A female 

 mentioned by the same writer, although fully adult, had a length of only three and 

 one-half feet, and did not weigh more than sixty pounds. This species is found in 

 the Malay Peninsula, and the islands of Sumatra, Java, and Borneo, and also extends 

 through Burma into the Garo hills in Northeastern India. Of its habits, Mr. 

 Blanford states that little is known except in captivity. It is a purely forest 

 animal, and an admirable climber. It is essentially frugivorous, but like other 

 bears occasionally kills and eats Mammals and birds. It is said to be very fond of 

 honey, and it probably devours insects and larvae. When caught young, it is 

 generally easily tamed, and is usually gentle and amusing when in captivity. Its 

 general pace is much quicker than that of other bears, and a specimen kept some 

 years ago in the Zoological Gardens at Calcutta, used to pace up and down its cage 

 with great rapidity, turning very suddenly ever} 7 time it came to the end of its track. 

 A fragment of the jaw of an extinct bear, obtained from the gravels of the Nar- 

 bada valley, in India, appears to indicate a more or less closely-allied species. 



THE EXTINCT CAVE-BEAR ( Ursus spelceus') 



No account of the typical bears would be complete without some reference to 

 the great extinct cave-bear, of which the remains are found in such profusion in 

 the caverns of Europe, and less commonly in the brick-earths and other superficial 

 deposits. This gigantic species, of which the skull is represented in the annexed 

 figure, was a contemporary of the mammoth and early human inhabitants of Europe. 

 The skull is readily distinguished from that of all other species by the great 

 prominence immediately above the eyes ; while the molar teeth are characterized 



