MAMMALS OF MINNESOTA. 145 



There are three pairs of mammas, the posterior pair being 

 near the thighs, the second 3 inches in advance, and the pector- 

 al pair yet 4 inches beyond. 



Measurements: Length of body 22-J- inches, tail 10, end of 

 nose to incisors f, end of nose to eye 2 T V, end of nose to ear 

 opening 4f, night of ear from inside 2 T 9 ^, elbow to longest claw 

 7-J, palm 3^, thumb 1, middle finger If, sole of hind foot 4f . 



GENUS URSUS. 



The clumsy beasts constituting this genus are sufficiently 

 well-known to require no general description. As a group it is 

 sharply defined although much diversity of opinion exists as to 

 the value of the remaining divisions of the sub-family. The 

 members of the genus Ursus are chiefly northern in distribu- 

 tion. One species (U. ornatus), occurs in the mountainous parts 

 of South America. The polar bear is circumpolar and differs 

 considerably in habits a.nd anatomy from more southern species. 

 The northern parts of Europe are, or were, inhabited by num- 

 erous varieties of the single species U. arctos. This brown 

 bear is larger than our species and in some respects like the 

 grizzly of the west. Carl Vogt's description of the young of this 

 species applies equally to ours: 



"Little bears are very amiable and in the highest degree 

 comical. Clowns in every respect, unwieldly yet nimble, al- 

 ways ready for play or sport, sociable with every one, and to 

 a certain extent teachable, they nevertheless evince an egotis 

 tic independence which later becomes a sullen habit. The 

 mother cares for them with unlimited devotion; for weeks she 

 does not leave them a moment, and remains without food in 

 the secluded recess chosen for their reception. She teaches 

 them to walk, to climb and to swim and defends them with 

 courage and to the last. Although the mother covers them 

 with caresses, coddles them warmly and endures well pleased 

 their teasing, still she does not neglect punishment, which when 

 needed is applied in the form of sundry slaps and ear-boxing, 

 and even slight bites of which she is not sparing. It is even 

 said that bears of two or three years old assist in training their 

 younger brothers and sisters." 



In the United States at least two species and numerous vari- 

 eties of bear are known, and it would be presumption to at- 

 tempt to discuss the value of the various specific distinctions 

 assumed by various authors upon the basis of the slight mater- 

 ial at the disposal of this survey. 



