escripfton, f)f0fot, anb 



BEARS appear to be of Old World origin. Fos- 

 sils tell of their existence in Asia eons ago. 

 The first bear emigrants perhaps landed in Alaska 

 more than a million years ago. They may have 

 come over on one of the land bridges which have 

 at times connected Asia and America. 



"In the Old World, bears were first distinguish- 

 able hi the Upper Miocene, and may there be 

 traced back to forms which were unmistakably de- 

 rivatives of the early dogs," says Mr. William B. 

 Scott in "A History of Land Mammals in the 

 Western Hemisphere." 



It is interesting that bears, dogs, and seals de- 

 scended from a common ancestor. Seals have been 

 called "sea bears." The bear lives for a long period 

 each year without either food or drink. During this 

 period he lies dormant. The seal has the habit of 

 doing without food and drink and also sleep for 

 weeks while leading an active life. The bear and 

 247 



