URSULE. CXCIX. 339 



FAMILY CXCIX. URSID^E. (THE BEARS.) 



Plantigrade Carnivora having the body thick and clumsy. Tail 

 rudimentary. Teeth 42 ; molars broad and tuberculated, accord- 

 ing with the omnivorous diet. Genera 5 ; species few and widely 

 distributed, in North America, there are probably but three, 

 although many have been described, the Polar Bear, Thalarctos 

 maritimuSj and the following. 



a. Snout depressed, so that the profile does not form a straight line ; soles not 

 fully furred ; claws moderate URSUS, 595. 



595. URSUS Linnaeus. (Lat., bear.) 



1123. U. americanus Pallas. BROWN, BLACK OR CINNAMON 

 BEAR. Color black or brownish, exceedingly variable, a fact which 

 has given rise to numerous nominal species, but the several forms or 

 varieties intergrade perfectly. N. Am., abundant, where not exter- 

 minated. 



1124. U. horribilis 1 Ord. GRIZZLY BEAR. Grizzly gray or 

 brownish. Largest of the bears, reaching a length of 9 feet and a 

 weight of 800 Ibs. Neb. to Cal., in the mountains. Very near the 

 European bear, U. arctos L. but larger. 



FAMILY CC. MUSTELID^J. (THE WEASELS.) 



Carnivora either plantigrade or digitigrade, with the toes 5-5. 

 Molars ^ (rarely ^) ; the upper and the last lower one tubercular; 

 sectorial premolar without tubercles ; no caecum. Most species pro- 

 vided with glands near the anus which secrete a fetid liquid. Some 

 are strictly carnivorous while others are rather omnivorous. Size 

 usually median or small. Mustelidce are found in all parts of the 

 earth excepting the Australian region. Some of the species are 

 aquatic, and one (Euhydris, the Sea Otter) presents numerous 

 analogies with the Seals. 



a. Skull with the cerebral portion swollen backwards and outwards, the snout 

 short, high and truncate forwards; toes webbed, the feet adapted for 



swimming; teeth 36. Aquatic. (Lutrince.) LUTRA, 596. 



aa. Skull with the cerebral portion posteriorly somewhat compressed, the 

 snout produced, attenuate and transversely convex above ; feet scarcely 

 webbed; mostly not aquatic. 

 b. Auditory bulla little inflated, constricted; last upper molar above quad- 



1 " Coward, of heroic size 

 In whose lazy muscles lies 

 Strength we fear and yet despise ; 

 Savage, whose relentless tusks 

 Are content with acorn husks ; 

 Robber, whose exploits ne'er soared 

 O'er the bee's or squirrel's hoard ; 

 Whiskered chin and feeble nose, 

 Claws of steel on baby's toes. " (Bret Harte. ) 



