THE AMERICAN BLACK BEAR. 117 
pletely plantigrade walk, the whole sole being at all 
times closely applied to the surface on which they tread ; 
secondly, from their claws, of which they have five on 
each foot; thirdly, from the extreme shortness of their 
tail; and lastly, from the form and arrangement of their 
teeth. ‘These consist of the usual number of incisors 
and canines, the latter being in general very robust, and 
of a series of molars, which, when complete, amount to 
six on each side in each jaw; the posterior three haying 
flat and expanded surfaces surmounted by broad and 
- blunted tubercles, and lying closely in contact with each 
other. Between them and the canines exists a consider- 
able space, which is or should be occupied by three 
smaller and obtusely pointed teeth; but this number is 
seldom found entire, one or more of them being gene- 
rally absent, and the series being thus rendered incom- 
plete. 
The Black Bear of America is distinguished from his 
fellows, and more especially from the brown bear of 
Europe, which he approaches most nearly in size and 
form, by few very striking external differences, except the 
colour of his fur. His forehead has a slight elevation ; 
his muzzle is elongated, and somewhat flattened above; 
and his hair, though long and straight, has less shaggi- 
ness than that of most of the other species of the group. 
In colour it is of a uniform shining jet-black, except on 
the muzzle, where it is short and fawn-coloured, becom- 
ing almost gray on the lips and sides of the mouth. 
This, however, it should be observed, is the character 
only of the full-grown animal: the young are first of a 
bright ash colour, which gradually changes to a deep 
