BEARS. 



33 



In addition to these external characteristics, the parti-coloured bear also 

 presents some peculiar features in regard to the skull and teeth. Thus the skull is 

 remarkable for the great width of the zygomatic arches and the enormous develop- 

 ment of the longitudinal ridge on the upper-surface of the brain-case, both these 

 features indicating greater power of jaw than has at present been found in any 

 other member of the entire carnivorous order. Then, again, the teeth differ both in 

 number and form from those of all the other Ursidae. Instead of the forty-two teeth, 

 characteristic of the typical bears, the parti-coloured bear has but forty teeth, all 

 told ; the diminution in number being due to the absence of the first pair of premolar 



THE PARTI-COLOUEED BEAR. 



teeth in the lower jaw. As regards form, the molar teeth are distinguished from 

 those of other bears by their shorter and wider crowns ; this being most marked in 

 the first molar of the upper jaw, which is broader than it is long. The second 

 upper molar tooth agrees, however, with the corresponding tooth of other bears in 

 being longer than the one in front of it. The pattern formed by the tubercles 

 on the crowns of these teeth is exceedingly complex, and approaches to that 

 obtaining in the panda, among the raccoon family, to be noticed in the next 

 chapter. 



The parti-coloured bear is reported to inhabit the most inaccessible districts of 

 Eastern Tibet, and to be of extremely rare occurrence. Unfortunately we are 

 at present quite ignorant of its habits, although it is said to feed chiefly on roots 

 and the young shoots of bamboos, and to be entirely herbivorous. 



VOL. ii. 3 



