FAMILY P LANTIGRADA. SOLE-TREADERS. 



19 



distinct toes ; soles bare and callous ; claws curved and sharp ; two pec- 

 toral and four ventral teats ; tail short. 



2. PEOCYON, (Gr. Trpo/cvwv). Incisive teeth six in each jaw ; cuspid 

 teeth long, conical, and pointed ; molar te^th six on a side in each jaw, 

 anterior three cutting teeth, posterior three tubercular, and those of the 

 upper jaw nearly square ; muzzle sharp ; ears small and oval ; tail of 

 moderate length and bushy ; feet plantigrade and five-toed ; claws sharp 

 and falcular. 



3. NASUA (Lat. natus, a nose). Incisive teeth six in either jaw, the 

 upper outer one on each side sharp and conical ; cuspid long, conical, sharp, 

 and angular ; molar six on a side in both jaws, the three anterior pointed 

 and cutting, the three posterior tubercular and grinding; muzzle very 

 pointed, nose very long and moveable ; ears small and oval ; body hairy ; 

 tail long and covered with hair ; feet plantigrade and five-toed ; ckws 

 sharp and falcular. 



4. GULO (Lat. gula, gluttony). Incisive teeth, above, six; the outer 

 one, on each side, longer than the intermediate, somewhat resembling the 

 cuspid, but more nearly resembling the incisive : below, six, the second 

 outer thicker and larger than those in the middle : cuspid teeth long and 

 conical ; molar, above, in some five, in others four, the two or three anterior 

 having but one point, the last but one the largest, sectorial, with two 

 points on its outer and one tubercle on its inner edge ; below, six or five 

 molars, the first small, deciduous, the three next single-pointed, the last 

 but one the largest, sectorial, two-pointed, and the last small, tuberculated, 

 and grinding ; snout pointed ; nose rather prominent and obtuse ; ears 

 rounded and short ; body airy ; tail of moderate length, or short ; anal 

 pouch little more than a fold of skin ; feet five-toed, plantigrade, soles 

 bare ; claws sharp and crooked. 



5. MELES. Incisive teeth six, both above and below ; cuspid longer 

 than the incisive, conical and sharp ; molar five above, the first very small 

 and deciduous, second and third single pointed, fourth subtricuspid, fifth 

 square, tubercular, and largest of all; six below, first small, deciduous, 

 second, third, and fourth single pointed, fifth largest, with two large and 

 one small point on its outer, and two tubercles on its inner edge, sixth 

 small and tubercular ; nose prominent and obtuse ; ears small and rounded ; 

 body hairy; tail short; feet five-toed, cleft; soles naked; claws falcular, 

 those of the fore feet longest and strongest. 



6. MELLIVORUS. See Eatel Ratel, under GULO. 



PLANTIGRADA. DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIES. 



URSUS Bear. Although in size equalling the largest of the preda- 

 ceous animals, the Bears are the least carnivorous of the whole order; 

 and in accordance with this is their system of dentition, for instead of all 

 their molar teeth being sectorial and shutting within each other like a pair 

 of scissors, the crowns of the hinder two in each jaw on each side are 

 tubercular, and their connexion with other carnivorous animals is shown 

 merely by a tooth in front of these, which is only a little more sectorial 

 than the rest. The spurious molar teeth between these and the cuspid 

 are deciduous, sometimes more and at other times fewer, being shed early 

 and leaving corresponding gaps ; and in one species at least not all the 

 incisives are permanent. All these circumstances indicate the disposition 

 to fmgivorous habits, which is the character of the genus, with the excep- 

 tion of a single species. They are all furnished with projectile lips, some 

 even are capable of great protrusion, so as to form a kind of proboscis. 

 The cartilages of the nose are also very moveable, and participate in this 

 projection. The general aspect of Bears is heavy, their body bulky, limbs 

 thick, and their motions awkward and shuffling upon the ground, although 

 they get along at a tolerably brisk pace ; but the greater number of them 

 are better suited for climbing trees, their descent from which is, however, 

 less ready, as they come down breech foremost. The breadth of their 

 forehead, their narrow muzzle, and their generally lively though small eyes, 

 somewhat relieve their otherwise heavy appearance. Bears are extremely 

 cautious, and avoid whatever they are unacquainted with, or, if induced 

 to approach, come slowly towards and examine it with great care before 



meddling with it. Generally they are shy and little inclined to fight, 

 except when pressed by hunger, or when in company with their young and 

 attacked. When, however, compelled to act on the defensive, they are 

 very courageous, and little disposed to avoid a rencontre, but rising upon 

 their hind limbs endeavour to hug their opponent in their arms, and tear 

 him to pieces with their teeth and claws. Most of the species inhabiting 

 cold climates retire to dens, where they sleep through the greater part of 

 the winter, and during this time the female produces her young. Bears 

 are capable of a certain degree of education, and can be taught to perform 

 particular motions at the word of command ; hence they appear to have 

 been for many ages and in all countries great favourites of the populace, 

 who are amused by their grotesque antics. Where Bears are numerous, 

 they become considerable articles of commerce for the sake of the valuable 

 furs which they afford ; and they are either taken in snares or shot, pre- 

 ference being given to the latter method where possible, on account of the 

 danger the hunter is otherwise exposed to : but even shooting is by no 

 means free from danger. 



The species are the Brown Bear (U. Arctos), which is about four feet 

 in length and two and a half in height. This animal was formerly found 

 found throughout Europe as low as the Alps and the Pyrenees, but has 

 long since been extirpated from the British Isles, and from the interior of 

 Holland, France, and Germany ; it is, however, still common in the Alps 

 of both Switzerland and Savoy, in the mountain forests of Bohemia, Poland, 

 and Russia, and extends across Asia in great numbers, in Siberia, and as 

 far as Kamtschatka and Japan ; perhaps also in America and Africa. 

 Oken says that in their fifth year they mate ; the female goes with young 

 seven months, and produces one, two, or three cubs, which are perfectly 

 well formed, and about eight inches long ; they remain blind for a month, 

 and continue to suck during three months. Except during the short breed- 

 ing season they live solitarily, some resorting to their winter retreats, from 

 whence the female does not emerge till her young are able to follow her. 

 They feed generally on pulse, roots, and of potatoes they are very fond ; 

 also on berries, and to honey they are extremely partial, in search of 

 which they climb the trees, regardless of the stings of the bees. They also 

 hunt after ant-hills, being very partial to those insects, probably on account 

 of their acidity, as acid fruits, particularly barberries and sorb-apples are 

 great favourites. Occasionally also they prey on cattle and carrion, but 

 this generally after rousing from their winter sleep, when they are very 

 ravenous. At this time, as also when in company with their cubs, they 

 are approached with danger. They live very well upon bread, as upon it 

 alone, to the amount of eight pounds a-day, they are fed in the Garden of 

 Plants in Paris, and also in the public garden at Berne. Bears have lived 

 for forty-seven years upon bread, varied, however, with such unripe fruit 

 as is brought to market, and which, according to the regulations of the 

 town, is confiscated to their use. 



The American Black Bear (U. Americanus) rarely exceeds five feet in 

 length ; the head is shorter and narrower, though the space between the 

 ears is wider, and the forehead more arched than in the European Black 

 Bear of Cuvier, though less than in the Brown Bear. This is the smallest 

 species of the American Bears, and inhabits every wooded district from 

 the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from Carolina to the shores of the Arctic 

 Sea ; but is more numerous inland than near the coast. Its food consists 

 principally of various kinds of berries; but these failing, it eats roots, 

 insects, fish, eggs, and such birds or beasts as fall in its way ; but it does 

 not eat animal food by choice. Those living in the fur countries hybernate 

 in dens, under fallen trees, beneath which they scratch away the soil, and, 

 retiring to it at the commencement of a snow-storm, are soon covered up. 

 But in more southern districts, where the timber is larger, a hollow tree 

 becomes their winter residence ; and in either case there they remain till 

 the greater part of the snow is gone. The cubs are produced in the be- 

 ginning of January, from one to five in number, probably according to the 

 age of the parent ; who though at other times very timid, yet at this period 

 is fierce and dangerous. According to Henry's account, the female does 

 not, like the male, reside in a den ; but so soon as her cubs are able to 



D 2 



