MAMMALS. 



25 



'. 



ii. 



separated "by a deep transverse crease, coated witli liair ; the naked balls of tlie fingers^ also, are 

 in nearly a straight line, and separated from the central pad hy a transverse furrow, also well 

 coated with hair. On the hind foot there is a single large naked pad, seven inches long, and 

 between five and six inches wide, separated from the halls of the toes hy a hairy transverse 

 furrow. These balls diminish progressively from the exterior to the interior ; the latter toe 

 shorter than the rest. The longest claw measures about two and a q^uarter inches. 



The hair is coarse in texture generally, and there is little under-fur. It is longest posteriorly 

 and on the sides. The prevailing color of the exterior is a dull pale brownish yellow, with an 

 amber tinge. The tips only are of this color; the basal and larger portion, with the intermeiliate 

 wool, being of a dark chestnut brown, then passing into a pure blackish nearly to the yellowish 

 tip. Immediately along the centre of the back the blackish tinge in the hair predominates 

 decidedly, as it does (to less extent) posteriorly. The belly and inferior surface of head and 

 throat are nearly of a clear brownish yellow. The legs are of a blackish brown, with a slight 

 tinge of chestnut, the hairs very slightly tipped with yellowish. 



There are some points in which this grizzly bear differs from specimens collected on the 

 coast of California, but it will require the examination of a larger number to settle fully the 

 question of permanent characteristics. The ears are shorter, and the tail longer than in the 

 coast grizzly, the two being nearly equal instead of the ears being twite as long as the tail. The 

 central large pad beneath the fore foot is longer in proportion to its width. The fur is decidedly 

 softer, and the colors differently arranged. Thus there is not the conspicuous space along and 

 behind the shoulders, with the hairs uniform yellowish to near the roots, as in the coast grizzly. 

 On the contrary, the hair here is scarcely more largely tipped with yellowish than in the other 

 parts of the body. 



SkuU, Two skulls of this species indicate very great age in the height of the sagittal and 

 temporal ridges, the obliteration of all the sutures, and the much worn condition of the teeth. 

 Compared with corresponding specimens of the California grizzly, the animals must have been 

 nearly one-fourth less. The profile is much the same as in the California grizzly; in tlie oldest 

 specimen (990) curving rapidly up from the occiput over the posterior third of the parietal 

 bones, thus passing in a straight but slightly ascending line as far as over the posterior third 

 of the frontal, then sloping rapidly downwards to the end of the nose, at first in almost a 

 straight line, then gently concave. In one specimen the broad forehead is slightly concave 

 transversely, in another it is straight; the orbital process in each being very convex externally. 

 There is, however, no convexity in either specimen between these processes in either a longitudinal 

 or transverse direction. 



The point of greatest elevation of the profile curve marks the place where the sagittal crest 

 bifurcates, and is continued on each side as a distinct temporal ridge, elevated above the plane 

 of the forehead. 



The under surface of the head is decidedly hollowed out, the lower profile exhibiting a 

 considerable concavity, in this respect approaching the Polar bear. Thus a straight line tangent 

 to the bottom of the notch between the occipital condyles and to the end of the intermaxillary will 

 pass three-quarters of an inch above the palate. 



A careful comparison of specimens of the grizzly bear, collected by the Commission, with a 

 series from the Pacific coast, exhibits certain differences, which seem to be of importance. In 



4 m 



