III. 



THE POLAR BEAR. 



Thalassarctos Maritimus. 



Much uncertainty prevails respecting the 

 generic classification of the bears. Wallace 

 has divided them into five genera or sub- 

 genera, and fifteen species. Wood gives 

 eighteen, and Gray says twelve. The ap- 

 pearance of the bear at different seasons 

 has led to much error in classification. The 

 practical mountaineer will tell you of some 

 three or four species in California that have 

 been given notice of as the young of an- 

 other species, or that have never been men- 

 tioned by the learned gentlemen who usual- 

 ly study bear life in the seclusion of a li- 

 brary or with the help of a strong field tel- 

 escope. A glance at the teeth of the bear 

 will tell you that they incline rather to the 

 vegetable diet. Their ferocity is almost al- 

 ways exaggerated. Their courage is des- 



242 



