50 _ GENUS OF BEARS. _ _ 



(Genera.) 



No well characterised carnivorous tooth in the upper") 

 jaw, but a small one in the lower ja\v ; three larije ! 

 tuberculous molars on each side, in each jaw ; tail } 

 very short. J 



Two tuberculous teeth, pre- ^ 

 ceded by three false molars; Rackoons. 

 muzzle bhorl ; toes not palm 



ii 



rs; 

 ate. J 



Very large in the "| 

 upper, and small 



One large trenchant j in the lower jaw; , 



carnivorous tooth in j tail short; toes j 1!aa g er *' 



each jaw, followed by One tuber- -{ united by 



culous tooth 



row membrane. J 



Small in both 



jaws ; tail of me- \- Gluttons. 

 Indium length. J 



6. BEARS are large animals with stout bodies, thick extremi- 

 ties and short tail; their gait is very dull, but they possess pro- 

 digious strength and considerable intelligence. The formation of 

 their extremities, little adapted for running, enables them to keep 

 erect on their hind feet, and quickly climb trees, which they 

 embrace between their paws. Some of them are also very good 

 swimmers, and they are indebted for this quality, in a measure, to 

 the quantity of fat with which their bodies are loaded. Of all 

 the carnivora, their organization least requires them to feed on 

 flesh, and their diet is least carnivorous ; in fact, the structure of 

 their teeth, almost entirely tuberculous, is more favourable for 

 grinding roots and fruits than for tearing and cutting flesh ; hence, 

 they are omnivorous. They eat both animal and vegetable sub- 

 stances ; but the last constitute their habitual food. They love 

 roots and fruits, but have a most decided preference for honey, 

 which they will seek in the midst of a hive without much regard- 

 ing the sting of the bees, being protected by the hard skin and 

 thick hair with which they are covered. 



7. Most of the bears live in great forests, but there is one 

 species that inhabits the coasts and ice of the polar seas. The 



ftjT( Answered in the table.) What is the arrangement of the teeth in the 

 genus of Bears? What is the number of their molar teeth ? Are their car- 

 nivorous teeth large? 



How are the teeth of Rackoons arranged ? Are their toes united by a 

 membrane ? How many carnivorous teeth have they in each jaw ? 



How are the teeth of Badgers arranged ? Have they carnivorous teeth ? 

 How many .tuberculous teeth have they ? Have they long tails ? Are they 

 palmate ? 



In what respect do the t-eth of Gluttons differ from those of Badgers? 

 Have Gluttons any tail ? 



6. What are bears? Are they swift runners ? Do they swim well ? Can 

 they climb? What do they feed on? What are they particularly fond of? 

 7. What are the habits of Bears ? How do they pass the winter ? 



