140 



size, thick fur, and dark colour, are among the most esteemed ; 

 and some idea of the numbers of these animals killed and the . 

 importance of the trade may be gathered from the fact that 

 upwards of about 10,000 skins are annually sold at the Easter 

 fair at Leipsic, these varying in value from five to thirty shillings 

 each, according to size, colour, and quality. The same authority 

 tells us that during the winter of 1885-86 more than 4,000 of 

 these animals were killed in Prussia alone. 



THE BEARS. FAMILY URSID^E. 



Although closely allied to the Mustelida in the structure ot 

 the hinder part of the base of the skull, the Bear family (in 

 addition to the vastly superior bodily size of the great majority 

 of its members) may be readily distinguished therefrom by the 

 greater number of their molar teeth, of which there are two 

 pairs in the upper, and three in the lower jaw, or the same 

 as in the Dogs. In character these teeth are, however, very 

 different from those of the latter, the two upper ones being 

 oblong and much longer than broad, with the crown finely 

 tuberculated, and adapted for a mixed, rather than a purely 

 flesh diet. Moreover, the flesh-teeth (the last pre-molar in the 

 upper, and the first molar in the lower jaw) are exceedingly 

 unlike those of the Dogs, being small in proportion to the 

 molars, and having the suctorial structure so characteristic of 

 Carnivora in general but little developed. All Bears are large, 

 heavily-built animals, with thoroughly plantigrade feet, armed 

 with strong curved claws, well adapted for digging, short ears, 

 and a mere apology for a tail. 



Generally adepts in climbing, but, in spite of the fossorial 

 characters of their feet, not excavating burrows for their own 

 habitation, Bears are distributed over the greater part of the 

 globe, with the exception of Africa SDuth of the Atlas mountains, 

 and Australia Save for one species from India and another 



