34 



THE STORY OF THE BEAR. 



general it varies from very pale to very dark brown, some of the lighter 

 varieties being almost cream colored' in certain parts; while, in a variety 

 from Eastern Thibet, the fnr on the l^ack and limbs is blackish, with tawny 

 tips to the hairs. In other varieties, again, the fur has a silvery tinge, owing 

 to the hairs being tipped with white; while some specimens have a decidedly 

 reddish tinge. In the light Himalayan variety the color deepens with age, 

 this darkening being generally most developed in old males, which are fre- 

 quently indistinguishable in color from the ordinary European form. Young 

 animals have a white collar on the throat, traces of which may frequently 

 be observed in the newly-grown fur of the adult. The summer coat is much 

 shorter and thinner than the winter dress, and is likewise darker in color. 



THE BROWN BEAR OF EUROPE. 



The claws are of moderate length, and their color varies from brown to 

 nearly white. 



Exact measurements of large European examples are not easy to obtam, 

 but it is probable that some specimens reach at least 8 feet from the tip of 

 the snout to the root of the tail. In the Himalaya the same dimensions are 

 not generally more than 5 or 5 J feet, but. large specimens reach about 7 feet, 

 and one has been recorded of yl feet in length and 3 feet 5 inches in height. 

 The tail does not measure more than 2 or 3 inches. 



The brown bear is an inhabitant of almost the whole of Europe, and of 

 Asia northwards of the Himalaya; its former range extending from the Brit- 

 ish Islands and Spain in the west to Kamschatka in the east. Bears are still 



