CARNIVORA. 83 



of prey. The females, however, do not appear until the approach 

 of milder weather, when they sally forth from their retreats, ac- 

 companied by two cubs. At this period, gaunt, lean and fam- 

 ished, they are peculiarly formidable, hunger and the presence 

 of their young adding to their natural ferocity. This bear is, 

 however, formidable at all times, strong and active as it is, run- 

 ning with great swiftness either on the ground or on the ice, and 

 with its claws, easily ascending the slippery sides of icebergs. 

 The affection of this animal for its young is much celebrated, 

 and its sagacity is great. 



U. ornatus, (Lat., furnished or adorned.) The SPECTACLED 

 BEAR, in the Cordilleras of the Andes, in Chili, has two semi-cir- 

 cular marks of a buff color above the eyes, appearing somewhat 

 like a pair of spectacles. 



U. collaris, (Lat. collar e, a collar.) The BEAR OF SIBERIA 

 has a large white collar passing over the neck and shoulders, on 

 to the breast. 



U. Syriacus. The SYRIAN BEAR, mentioned in 2 Kings, ii, 

 23, is probably the first of which there is any record. 



U. labiatiiSi (Lat. labia, a lip.) The LABIATED or SLOTH BEAR, 

 was, sixty years since, called the Five-fingered Ursine Sloth. 

 The cartilage of the nose is capable of extension, and the lips 

 of considerable^ protrusion. 



U. Malayanus. The MALAYAN BEAR. 



The long tongue of this Bear aids it in feeding upon the honey 

 of bees, of which, as of other delicacies, it is extremely fond. 

 It has also a taste for the young shoots of the Cocoa trees. 



The existence of bears in Africa was doubted by Cuvier, but 

 there is now good reason to believe the animal is found in Ab- 

 yssinia, and the mountains of Arabia Felix. 



Procyon lotor, (Gr. ngoxvwv, prokuon, nqo y pro, before, xvcav, 

 a dog.) The RACOON. 



The remaining animals of this group form a sort of connect- 

 ing link between the plantigrade and digitigrade carnivorous 

 tribes. The Racoon, which with one or two other species, was 

 formerly included in the genus Ursus, is now separated from it, 

 and included in the new genus Procyon. It is a native of this 

 continent, and numerously found in its northern territories, also 

 in the Eastern, Northern and Middle States of the American 

 Union, and yet more abundantly in some of the Southern States. 

 The average length of the animal is about two feet, from the 

 nose to the tail. The head is somewhat like that of a fox, the 

 forehead being broad and the nose sharp ; the ears are short, and 

 slightly rounded ; the body is broad and stout ; the back arched ; 



