EUROPEAN BROWN BEAR. 53 



Major H. Smith describes a remarkable European 

 bear, which he saw at Dresden, and '' which seems to 

 be, if not a distinct species, at least a strongly marked 

 variety. It was about four feet high at the shoulders. 

 The physiognomy differed from that of the common 

 bear ; the ears were small and round, and the facial 

 angle was greatly depressed at the junction of the nasal 

 and frontal bones. The colour was a fiery yellow on 

 the head and back, passing into chestnut and red on the 

 sides and hams : the belly and paws were brown ; and 

 there was a dark streak upon the nose, spreading into 

 branches towards the orbit." 



M. Cuvier considers that the true distinction of the 

 common or brown bear of Europe is in the form of its 

 skull, the upper portion of which is always arched in 

 every part ; the forehead forming part of the same 

 curve which runs from the muzzle to the occiput : it is 

 arched also from right to left in the same style as in its 

 length ; and there is no clear distinction between the 

 forehead, the middle portion of the parietal bones, and 

 the temporal fosses. The sagittal crest only begins to be 

 sensibly marked very near the occipital. 



The following description of the brown bears in the 

 Zoological Gardens enables us to bring together the 

 most authentic accounts of this species, and which will 

 serve as valuable points of comparison with what will 

 subsequently be said of the American bears. " The fur 

 is thick, long, soft, and woolly. In younger individuals, 

 the colour is deep brown, with a tinge of grey on the 

 body, which becomes nearly black on the legs and feet ; 

 while in the adult it is mixed with yellowish grey and 

 fawn-colour, giving the fur a grizzled appearance. 

 The forehead rises suddenly from behind the eyes, 

 assuming a regular convex form" (as noticed in the 

 preceding observations of M. Cuvier), '^ but not ele- 

 vated to any great extent. The usual size of the adult 

 is about four feet long, and two and a half high. The 

 length of the head is about a foot, that of the fore feet 

 eight inches, and that of the hinder feet something 

 e3 



