FOSSIL MAMMALIA. 123 



and prompt approximation of the temporal crests, and also for 

 the length and elevation of the sagittal, both indications of 

 vast force in the crotaphite muscles. Now, in the polar bear, 

 these parts are the least strongly developed. In these points 

 the black bears, both of Europe and America, more approach 

 the fossil ; but they are as remote from it as the others, by the 

 flatness of the front of the head. 



In the peculiar serpentine line of the profile, the brown bear 

 approaches to the fossil, and so does that other bear, which 

 Shaw placed among the sloths ; but, in other points, there is no 

 sort of comparison. 



The fossil head measures one-fourth more, from the spine of 

 the occiput to the incisives, than the largest of the living heads ; 

 one-third more than that of the polar bear. 



These pecuharities might be supposed to attach to the age 

 of the individual, but they have been found to hold good in 

 subjects that other characters evidently proved to have been 

 young. 



Other crania have been found equally large, but less convex, 

 than the last ; and a third one, smaller, and partaking more of 

 the characters of our brown and black bears. 



From all this the Baron concludes, that these caverns have 

 furnished three distinct forms of the adult head. Those with 

 convex forehead ; those equally large, but flattened, and a 

 smaller one, resembling the brown bear. 



It is sufficient to observe, without entering into further 

 details, that the entire osteology of the fossil bear justify the 

 following conclusions : — 



The most common bones in the caverns belong to this genus. 



The largest of the crania, and some of the other bones, 

 present such striking differences, that they must be regarded 

 as belonging to species distinct from those of the present day. 



Among these large crania some are less convex, and, most 

 probably, belonged to a different species from those which are 

 more so. 



