CAVE LODGERS. 195 



SO often killed as his numbers and bad character mijrht 

 warrant. 



Compared with the U. Arctos — the common brown 

 btar of Europe — the black bear shows many well-marked 

 dii^^inctions, the grizzly (U. horrilnlis) claiming a much 

 clcse.'" relationship with the former. Professor Baird 

 points, however, to important dental differences between 

 them ; and considers the invariably broader skulls of the 

 brown bear conclusive as to identity. Perhaps the 

 greater size of the grizzly might be merely regarded as 

 owing to geographical variation ; but, taken in conjunc- 

 tion with the above and other osteological differences, 

 and the longer claws and shorter ears of the American, 

 we can only regar^l them as representative species. 



The black bear grows to some six feet in length from 

 the muzzle to the tail (about two inches long), and 

 stands from three to three and a half feet in height at 

 the shoulder. The general colour is a glossy black, the 

 sides of the muzzle pale brown; there is no wool at the 

 base of the hair. In many specimens observed in Nova 

 Scotia I have seen groat differences both as regards 

 colour of the skin and length of leg — even in breadth of 

 the skulls. Some animals are brown all over, others glossy 

 black, and wanting the cinnamon patch at the muzzle. 

 There are long and low bears, whereas others have short 

 bodies and great length of limb. The settlers, of course, 

 as they do in the case of other animals, insist upon two 

 species : my own conclusion is that the species is very 

 susceptible of variation. They have a mythical bear 

 called " the ranger," which does not hybernate, and is 

 known by length of limb, and a white spot on the breast. 

 This latter peculiarity I have seen in several skins, but 



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