SPELwEOS. 101 



was of a soft nature, as berries, or tender twigs or sprouts. 

 The size and strength of the Ursus spelaus, and the huge 

 canines with which its jaws were armed, would, however, 

 enable it to cope with the large Ruminants and ordinary 

 Pachyderms, its contemporaries in ancient Britain and 

 on the Continent, and to successfully defend itself against 

 the large Lion or Tiger, whose remains have been found 

 in the same caverns. 



In regard to such depositaries of fossil remains in this 

 country it has been proved, chiefly by the researches of Dr. 

 Buckland, that England differs very remarkably from the 

 rest of Europe in the small number of its ancient bears, as 

 compared with the hyaenas ; the proportionate numbers of 

 Ursus spelteus and Hyaena speleea being reversed in the island 

 and on the continent. How far this difference depends on 

 the accident of a discovery of retreats of the Hyaena in 

 this country, which remain to be found on the Continent, 

 or whether it is to be regarded as an indication of some 

 geographical separation having existed at the remote period 

 of these beasts of prey, analogous to that which now divides 

 England from the Continent, may be determined by ulterior 

 researches. 



Having already discussed the question of the specific 

 characters and relations of the extinct Bears of this 

 country, I shall conclude by briefly indicating the chief 

 localities in which their fossil remains have been discovered. 



The tusk of a Bear, equalling in size that of the Ursus 

 spelaus, discovered by Dr. Buckland in the celebrated 

 hyaena-cave at Kirkdale in Yorkshire has been already 

 cited. A few teeth of a feline animal, indicating a magni- 

 tude equal to the largest Bengal Tiger, were also found. 

 The paucity of such remains is rendered more striking by 

 the contrast, of the incalculable numbers of hyaenas 1 teeth 

 which the same cavern has furnished. 



