616 



ZOOLOGY. 



pre-molars and three true molars ; while the rami of the 

 mandible are coossified ; for these reasons it was placed 

 by F. Cuvier between the orders Carnivora and Primates 

 (Cope). It is allied to the raccoon, is called the kincajou, 

 and lives in northern South America. 



The bears have a thick, clumsy body, with a rudimentary 

 tail, and the teeth are broad and tuberculated, so that they 

 can live indifferently on fish, insects, or berries. Our North 

 American species are the polar bear (Ursus maritimus 

 Linn.) and Ursus arctos Linn., with its varieties of brown, 



Fig. 535. Skeleton of the Polar Bear, showing the plantigrade feet. 51, scapula ; 

 53, hnmerus; 54, radius; 55, ulna; 62, ilium; 63, ischium; 65, femur; 66, tibia; 67, 

 fibula ; cl, calcareum ; C, cervical vertebrae. After Owen. 



cinnamon and grizzly bears ; and the true black bear, Ursus 

 Americanus Pallas. 



The bears are succeeded by the Mustelidce, or the otter, 

 skunk, badger, wolverene, weasel, mink, ermine, etc., nearly 

 all of which ^are valuable for their furs. 



The dog family (Canidce) is represented by the fox, wolf, 

 and dog. The gray fox ( Urocyon Virginianus Erxleben) the 

 common red fox ( Vulpes vulgaris Fleming), with its varie- 

 ties, the cross, silver, and black fox, as well as the wolf 

 (Canis lupus Linn.), are valuable for their furs. The wolf 

 is mostly gray northward, becoming "southward more and 



