THE GAME ANIMALS OF CANADA 107 



region. In colour great variation is found. The normal 

 colour is deep brown to brownish black, with the outer por- 

 tions of the longer hairs tipped with light gray, which gives 

 the name ''silver- tip." In some cases the fur is com- 

 pletely or partly gray; in others it varies from dark brown 

 to cinnamon, and R. H. Chapman, of Washington, D. C, 

 recently showed me the skins of a female and two cubs, 

 obtained near Revelstoke, B. C, which were of a distinctly 

 reddish shade. 



Not only is there great variation in the colour of the skins 

 of grizzly bears, but marked differences in the skulls are 

 also to be found, and, as a result of these, striking anatom- 

 ical differences in the cranial and dental characters. Doc- 

 tor C. Hart Merriam, who has kindly demonstrated to me 

 these differences in the very extensive series of skulls that 

 he has collected, has described a large number of species and 

 sub-species within the grizzly-bear group. 



The Bareen-Ground Grizzly Bear {Ursus 

 richardsoni) 



Throughout the Barren Grounds this species may be 

 found, but it does not appear to be anywhere abundant. 

 Its occurrence along the Arctic coast was reported by the 

 early explorers, Samuel Heame, Franklin, and Richardson. 

 It was found in the neighbourhood of the Coppermine River 

 and Bathurst Inlet. In J. B. Tyrrell's explorations in 1900 

 evidence of its occurrence on the Thelon was found, and 

 J. M. Bell saw, during the same season, these large greyish- 

 brown bears quite often along the north and west shores 

 of Great Bear Lake. 



In his account of northern manmials MacFarlane states: 

 "This bear is not uncommon in the Barren Grounds of the 

 Anderson region, nor on the polar shores of Franklin Bay." 

 He recounts a number of instances illustrating the danger- 



