422 



MR. R. LYDEKKER OX ITIB 



[Apr. 6, 



(j. Ubsus aectus middendohtfi. — Kadiak Brown Bear, 



Ursus middendorffi, Merriam, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, vol. x. 

 p. 69 (1896). 



Although closely allied to the preceding, which it somewhat 

 exceeds in size, and thus the largest living member of: the group, the 

 Bear of Kadiak Island, Alaska, is, I consider, rightly separated by 

 Dr. Merriam. 1 have not seen a skull, but it appears, from his 

 figures and description, that in adult males tlie frontal region is 

 enormously elevated, highly arched, and relatively narrow ; the 

 zygomatic "arches enormously wide, and the postzygomatic region 

 very short. There appears to be no concavity at the root of the 

 nasals ; and the great elevation of the frontal region seems most 

 conspicuous in sub-adult examples. Merriam gives a number of 

 minor characters distinguishing the skulls of the t\\'o forms, which 

 need not be recapitulated here. It is stated that in the adult 

 female tlie skull is relatively more elongated and the frontal 

 region less elevated than in the male. The front claws are long 

 and considerably curved. 



I presume that Dr. Merriam had definite knowledge of the sex 

 of the skulls of the Kamschatkan Bear with which he makes com- 

 parison. Those in the British Museujn are not determined, and if 

 they be females a question might arise whether this form is really 

 distinct from the preceding. The characters of the fourth lower 

 premolar are not given. 



7. Ursus aectus xesobnsis, sulssp. nov. — Fezo Broivn Bear. 



My attention has been directed by Mr. Thomas to three skulls 

 from" Tezo, the northern island of Japan, in the British Museum, 

 which differ so remarkably from any others I have seen as to 



Fisr. 3. 



Profile view of 8ub-adiilt skull of Ursus arctus yesoensis. 



indicate a distinct form. They comprise a half-grown, a sub-adult 

 (no. 86.11.18.2), and a fully adult specimen (no. 96.4.27.1). Com- 

 pared with skulls of similar age of the Kamschatkan form, which 



