ORDER CARNARIA. FAMILY Carnivora. 



THE BROWN BEAR. (Ursus Arctos.) 



In the Systema Nature of Linnaeus, this was the only known 

 species of bear described by him -, but more than eight species 

 have been discovered and described since his time. 



The bodies of all the species are generally thick-set and bulky, 

 and their limbs are of a proportionate thickness though com- 

 paratively short. Their fur is long, rough, and woolly. Their 

 heads might be said to be nearly round, were it not for their 

 broad and projecting muzzle, which possesses considerable 

 powers of mobility and extension j their ears are of moderate 

 size; the pupils of their eyes circular ; their tongues are soft, 

 smooth, and extensible ; their teeth are almost solely adapted for 

 the detrition of vegetable substances, which in fact constitute 

 the chief food of these animals. On each foot they have five 

 claws, which are well fitted for climbing and burrowing, being 

 very strong, sometimes much curved, but rounded on their sur- 



