S28 Dr. Horsfield on the Helarctos EuryspiluSy 



amuses the spectators iii a different manner. Calmly seated in 

 its apartment, it expands the jaws and protrudes its long and 

 slender tongue as above described. It displays on many occa- 

 sions not only much gentleness of disposition, but likewise a 

 considerable degree of sagacity. It appears conscious of the kind 

 treatment it receives from the keeper. On seeing him, it often 

 places itself in a variety of attitudes, to court his attention and 

 caresses, extending its nose and anterior feet, or suddenly turning 

 round exposing the back, and waiting for several minutes in this 

 attitude, with the head placed on the ground. It delights in being 

 patted and rubbed, and even allows strangers to do so, but it 

 violently resents abuse and ill treatment, and having been irri- 

 tated, refuses to be courted while the offending person remains in 

 sight. 



The Helarctos now in the Royal Menagerie was obtained, in 

 Borneo, when very young, and brought to this country by the 

 commander of a vessel, about two years ago. During the voyage 

 it was the constant associate of a Monkey and of several other 

 young animals; it was thus domesticated in eaily life, and its 

 manners in confinement greatly resemble those of the Malayan 

 Bear observed by Sir Stamford Raffles. But we are as yet perfectly 

 unacquainted with the habits of the Bear from Borneo in its 

 native state. It is probably not inferior to the Malayan Bear in 

 sagacity and intellect. 



I have now to state the grounds on which the Bornean and Ma- 

 layan Bears have been defined as a subgenus of Ursus, and to 

 give the discriminating subgeneric characters. On a transient 

 view this separation may perhaps appear unnecessary. It may 

 even appear inadmissible to apply so rigorous and minute a sub- 

 division to the genus Ursus. But a similar method has lately 

 been applied to many genera, and I need only refer to the sub- 

 divisions which have been established by M. Frederic Cuvier 

 and others in various Linnean genera, as Viverra, Mus^ &c. 

 These cases are familiar to every person who has attended to the 

 subject. It is true that all the individuals of the genus Ursus 

 taken comprehensively, or as a " Grand genre" par excellence ^ 

 according to the views of Cuvier, have a very striking family 



