46 SUBKINGDOM VERTEBEATA. 



Fig. 58. 



Skeleton of Bear. 



only from necessity, their preference being for roots, nuts, 

 honey, and even insects. The single American genus is thus 

 tabulated : 



["Terrestrial only. ) SOLES OF THE ) Ursus horribilis, G izzly Bear. 



URSID/E. \ Terrestrial and arboreal, f FEET NAKED ^ " amer icanii3 ' lacfc ' r ' 



( SOLES OF THE ^ 

 v. Maritime. } FEETCOVERED> " maritimus, WhiteBear. 



IIAIR. 



The Grizzly Bear, so called because of the intermixture in 

 its fur of grayish hairs with black and brown, is the most 

 ferocious of the North American carnivora. Its sharp, 

 powerful claws, often five inches long, move independently 

 of one another, and, when the animal strikes with its paws, 

 cut like so many chisels. Its strength enables it to carry off 

 a bison, and dig a pit in which to bury it.* 



Black Bear. While the Grizzly Bear is limited to the 

 Rocky Mountain regions,, the Black Bear, under a variety of 

 names, is distributed over North America. An expert 



* Such is the terror inspired by this formidable beast, tint no other animal will 

 dare to touch a deer which it has killed and left behind ; the simple print of the bear's 

 foot frightening away even a hungry wolf. Its tail is very short and entirely 

 hidden beneath its fur. The Indians sometimes amuse themselves with the perplex- 

 ity of persons who are ignorant of this fact, by requesting them to lift the carcaes of 

 a Grizzly which they say is easily done if seized by the tail. 



