BIALAY BEAR. 6^ 



has nevertheless a wide geographic range^, and is sub- 

 ject to much variation in its colours. The smallest 

 race comes from Pegu, and the largest from the island 

 of Sumatra, where they are very common, and appear 

 to have migrated from the continent. It causes great 

 ravages in the island to the fruit ; climbing to the sum- 

 mit of the cocoa palms to drink the milk, after destroy- 

 ing the tops of the plant. 



The individual in the 

 Tower is described as very 

 full of action, though its 

 movements may be called 

 slow and measured ; with 

 all its muscular clumsiness, 

 it appears to possess great 

 suppleness of joint, ip 

 throwing itself into many 

 and very antic postures. 

 Its favourite position, how- 

 ever, is that here represented 

 by Mr. Landseer — sitting 

 on its haunches, and thrusting out its long narrow 

 tongue to a very extraordinary length. It eats about 

 two pounds of bread and milk a day. 



In size, this is the smallest of the Indian bears, 

 measuring only three feet eight inches from the nose to 

 the root of the tail, which is remarkably short. Its 

 colour is jet black in every part, except the muzzle, 

 which is grey : the semilunar mark, so conspicuous on 

 the breast, is variable in colour ; in a specimen at the 

 India House it is white, but M. Duvaucel describes it 

 as red ; and that in the Tower is stated to be '^' yellow 

 with a tinge of red;" its form is more constant, and 

 resembles that of a horseshoe. The whole of the fur 

 is short, fine, and glossy, lying close over the body as 

 well as on the head. In its figure it stands lower, but 

 is a stouter and a better proportioned animal than the 

 common bear. 



F 3 



