58 NATURAL, HISTORY. 
CHAPTER V1. 
CARNIVOROUS QUADRUPEDS—concluded. 
92. Tux family of Urside, the Bear tribe, includes the 
Bears, Raccoons, Badgers, etc. ‘These are said to be 
Plantigrade animals (planta, sole, and gradior, I walk), 
because, like man, they apply the sole of the foot to the 
ground in walking. The families of the Carnivora al- 
ready noticed are, on the other hand, said to be Digiti- 
grade (digitus, finger or toe, and gradior), because they 
walk on their toes; the bone which corresponds to the 
heel-bone in man really extending quite up the leg. You 
can see how this is if you compare the skeleton of the 
camel, which is a Digitigrade animal, with that of man, 
in Figs. 1 and 3. To make the comparison clear, begin 
at the hip or shoulder joint of the camel, and go down to 
the feet, observing the corresponding bones in man. 
93. Although this family is placed among the Carniv- 
ora, most of the species live partly on vegetable food, and 
some live almost entirely upon it.. They may be said to 
be nearly, if not quite, omnivorous (omnis, all, and voro, 
to eat). Most of them are expert in climbing. They 
conceal themselves in caves, holes, and hollow trees; and 
it is in such places that they spend the winter in a state 
of partial torpidity. The genus Ursus, or Bear, is the 
type of the family. There are eight species: three in Eu- 
rope—one of which, the Polar Bear, is common also in 
America; one in the mountains of India; one in Java; 
one in Thibet, and three in North America. The body 
and limbs of the Bear are massive, and are covered with 
shaggy hair. Its five toes have strong claws, suited to 
digging. In very cold countries bearskins are of great 
use in making coverlets and articles of clothing. Leath- 
