ANI3IALS IN 3IENAGERIES. 



The Thick-lipped Bear. 



Ursus labiatus, Blainville. Bradypus ursinus, Shaw. Prochi- 

 lus ursinus, Illiger. Melursus, Mci/er. 



In the year 1790, an old individual of this 

 species_, which had lost its cutting teeth, was exhibited 

 in England, and although called a bear, was pro- 

 nounced by the scientific of those days to be a sloth : 

 it was accordingly described and figured by Dr. Shaw 

 under the name of Bradypus ursinus, or ursiform sloth ; 

 and the learned Ilhger, deceived by this imperfect ac- 

 count of our countrymen, formed upon it his genus 

 Prochilus. This individual seems to have been the 

 first that had ever reached Europe. The species, how- 

 ever, has more lately become better known, and is found 

 to be a genuine bear, although possessing certain traits 

 of habit, which may in some degree account for the 

 want of tact in its first describer of recognising its true 

 station in nature. Mr. Buchanan Hamilton, in his 

 Indian travels, published in 1807, was the first to dis- 

 cover that this supposed sloth was a bear peculiar to 

 the mountains of India. It is the largest species of the 

 three now known to inhabit Continental India, and is 

 altogether superior to them in general intelligence and 

 docility. M. Duvaucel assures us it is often met with 

 in the mountains of Silhet; and that the natives declare 

 it is exclusively frugivorous, or living only upon fruits 

 and vegetables. As being the most common species in 

 Bengal, and possessing peculiar docility, it is frequently 

 educated by the Indian juggler, and taught to exhibit 

 for the amusement of the vulgar. Its motions are easy, 

 as the body is long, and the hmbs elevated. Nothing 

 further is known of its natural economy, and we are 

 uncertain whether any Hving specimen is existing at 

 this time in England. 



