shows that the Bears are not confined to an exclu- 
sively carnivorous diet. Their senses of smell and 
hearing are well developed. 
The Bears generally live singly, but are some- 
times met with in small companies. They are found 
in Europe, Asia, and North America. 
The Black Bear (Ursus americanus, Plate XI. 
fig. a.,) inhabits the thick forests of North America, 
especially near the banks of rivers. He is generally 
looked upon as a harmless creature, and as much 
less formidable than the Brown Bear of Europe, 
although he equals him in size. The American Bear 
is shining black, with only a little yellow skin on 
the sides of his muzzle. His head is more pointed, 
and the soles of his feet are shorter than in the 
European Bear. 
The Brown Bear (Ursus arctos, Plate XI, fig. b) 
measures upwards of five feet in length, and three 
in height. His muzzle is conical, and clothed with 
shorter hair than the rest of his body. He is covered 
with long shaggy brown hair, but his colour varies 
a little according to age and locality. When young, 
he feeds chiefly on vegetable food, but as he grows 
older, he becomes dangerous to wild and tame ani- 
mals ofall kinds, and makes himselfa pest to the neigh- 
bourhood. Bear-hunting is dangerous, but very profit- 
able, for the flesh is considered a dainty and the 
hide is also valuable. At present the Bear is rarely 
met with in Europe except among high mountains. 
In Roman times, British bears were much prized in 
the amphitheatre for their strength and ferocity; but 
they became extinct in England about the time of 
the Norman Conquest. 
The Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus, Plate XI. 
fle. c) may be distinguished by his long body, coni- 
cal head, and the web between the toes of his great 
broad feet. He is white in colour, and a fullgrown 
animal is much larger and heavier than the largest 
Brown Bear. 
The Polar Bear only inhabits the icy coasts 
of the Arctic Ocean, but is often drifted far to the 
south on floating icebergs. Although he looks so 
bulky, he can run very fast, and is an excellent 
swimmer. He is a bold animal, and his strength 
renders him regardless of danger. He feeds on 
everything which the sea and coast will furnish, 
Family Procyonide. 
(Plate XI.) 
The type of this family is the well known 
Raccoon (Frocyon lotor, Plate XI. fig. d) a common 
animal in North-America, Its broad head projects 
into a short muzzle, its body resembles that of a 
badger, and it has a broad bushy tail. The animal 
is about two feet long, exclusive of the tail. It 
generally spends the day in a hollow tree, and does 
not go in search of food till nightfall, When it is 
not hungry, it has the peculiar habit of washing all 
its food with its fore paws before eating it. 
(Raccoons), 
Family Mustelide. (Weasels.) 
(Plates V VI. XII) 
The AMustelide or Weasels are found in all 
parts of the world, except Australia. They are 
generally small or moderate-sized animals, with a 
small head, a long slender body, short legs, very 
sharp teeth, and non-retractile claws. Their fur is 
close and fine. There are glands near the tail which 
emit a very offensive odour, They are found in 
lonely forests, as well as in the neighbourhood of 
12 


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human dwellings. They are very active and grace- 
ful in their movements, and generally swim with ease. 
The Pine Marten (Mustela martes, Plate V. 
fig. d) is found throughout Europe, as well as in 
some parts of Northern Asia and America. It fre- 
quents thick woods and forests, where it makes its 
abode in hollow trees, squirrels’ nests &c. It leaps,. 
climbs, and swims well, and is a very cunning and 
audacious robber, from which no weaker animal is 
secure. Including the tail, the Pine Marten measures 
fully two feet and a quarter in length. Its fine soft 
fur is dark brown above and yellowish on the back 
and sides, 
The Beech Marten (Mustela fotna Pl. V. fig. e) 
is smaller; the head is longer and the chestnut-brown 
fur is shorter, The neck and chest are white. The 
Beech Marten likes to make its abode in old walls 
and barns, and is therefore more often found near 
human dwellings than the Pine Marten. It can be 
tamed when taken young, but is less frequently 
kept in confinement than the Ferret. 
The Weasel (Mustela vulgaris, Plate VI. fig. a) 
is brown above, and white beneath. It is not much 
larger than a rat, but it is a very courageous ani- 
mal, and will not only attack animals of its own 
size, but very much larger ones, with the greatest 
audacity. Its small lithe body enables it to make 
its way not only among the woods and fields, but 
to creep through any hole or crevice in outhouses 
and farm-yards, 
The Stoat or Ermine ((Zustela erminea, Pl. V1. 
fig. b) is nearly twice as Jarge as the Weasel, but 
much resembles it in its habits. It is brown in 
summer, but in the cold winters of Northern Europe 
and Asia, it becomes pure white in a few days, 
except the tip of the tail, which always remains black. 
The Stoat climbs and swims well, and will even 
cross running water. 
The Sable (Martes sztbellina, Plate VI. fig. d) 
much resembles the Beech Marten, but the head is 
more pointed, the ears longer, and the tail shorter. 
It is met with throughout Northern Asia, but is now 
getting scarce, owing to the value set upon its soft 
shining fur. This is prized in proportion to its uni- 
formity of colouring, the finest specimens being 
blackish on the back, with the undersurface of the 
body reddish brown. 
The Pole-cat (Putorius fetidus, Plate V. fig. f) 
is smaller than the martens, but far more destructive 
to game and poultry, as it will kill much more food 
than it can eat. It is not so slender as the Martens, 
and its outer fur is darker than the inner. When 
alarmed or wounded, it emits an exceedingly offen- 
sive odour, 
The Ferret (Pudtorius furo, Plate VI. fig, c) 
is very similar to the Pole-cat, and is by many 
writers considered to be only a variety of it. It is an 
inhabitant of North Africa, but is employed in Europe 
to pursue rats and rabbits in their burrows. It is 
generally of a white or pale yellow colour, with 
red eyes. 
The most formidable of all the weasel tribe is 
the Skunk (Wephitis chinga, Plate VI. fig. e). It is 
about a foot and a half long, not including the tail, 
which is not much shorter than the rest of the body, 
and very bushy. The fur is black, sprinkled with 
white, long and shining, and of some commercial 
value. Although not so slender as the other weasels, 
and less active, it is a very pretty animal, but has 
the peculiarity of defending itself when attacked or 
alarmed, by ejecting an unsufferably fetid secretion 

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