306 MAMMALIA. 



Genus MELURSUS. 



Melursus, Meyer Uebers. neust. Zool. Entdeck., p, ISS, (l793)*. 

 FrochWas, Illiger Prodr., p. 109 (181 1). 



Melursus ursinus. 



Bradypus ursinus, Shaw and Nodder Natur . Miscell., ii, pi. Iviii (1791); id 



Genl. Zool., i, pt. i, p. 1S9. 

 Melursus lybius, Meyer Uebers. neust. Zool. Entdeck., p. 155 (1793)*; 



Gray Cat. Hodgs. Coll., 1st ed., p. IS- 

 Prochilus ursinus, Illiger Prodr., p. 109(1811). 

 Ursus labiatus, Blainville Bull. Sod. Philom., p. 74 (i8i7)»j Sykei P.Z. S., 



1831, p. JOO ; Elliot Madras Journ., x, p. 100 ; Tickell talc. Journ. W, H., 



i, p, 199, pi. vii; Blyth Cat. no. 227, p. 77; Jerdon Mamm., p. 72; 



McMaster Notes on Jerdon, p. 12 ; Sioliceka J. A. S. B., xli, p. 226 ; 



Atkinson N.-W. P. Gazett., xi, p. 11 ; Sterndale Mamm.Ind., p. 119. 

 Ursus longirostris, Tiedemann Abhandl., p. 4 (1820)*. 

 Prochilus labiatus, Gj'oj' Ann. Philos., p. 60 (1825)* ; Kelaart Prodr . Faun. 



Zeylan., p. 34. 

 Ursus inornatus, Pucheran Rev. Mag. Zool., (2), vii, p. 392 (1855); 

 Melursus labiatus, Gray Cat. Cam. Mamm., p. 237 (1869). 

 Melursus ursinus, Blanford Mammals, p. 201 (1888). 



The Sloth Bear ; Aswail, Mahrathi ; Kaddi, Canarese ; Rinch, 

 Deccani ; Oosa, Cingalese ; Ballu Riksha, Sanskrit ; Reech, 

 Hindustani ; Bhalu, Bhaluk, Bengali ; Yerid, Gonds ; Banna, Kols ; 

 Elugu, Telegu. 



Distribution.— O'ver t\i& ynho\& Peninsula of India and Ceylon 

 (Kelaart). It is apparently found in Cutch'but not in Sind or in the 

 Himalayas, eastwards it extends to Lower Bengal and apparently 

 to Assam. 



The Indian Bear is very distinct from the other bears, both in 

 its distribution and its morphological characteristics. It is confined 

 to the Peninsula of India strictly speaking, while the other Indian 

 bears are all extra-peninsular ; it is distinguished from the other 

 Indian bears by its very elongated snout ; by its very small cheek- 

 teeth and by its concave and curved palate. 



Of the two fossil bears found in India, one Ursus theobaldi 

 from the Siwaliks [Pal. Ind. (20), ii, p. 211] is distinctly allied to 

 Melursus ursinus. 



a. Skin No history. 



b. Skin No history. 



c. Skin, skelet. W. Rutledge. 



juv. ? 



rf. Stuffed, juv. W. Rutledge. 



e. Skull $ Umsuing nr. Shillong, J. Cockburn. 



Assam. 



/.Skeleton No history, A.S.B, 



g-. Skull R. C.Beavan, 1864, A.S.B. 



ft. Skull Dr. McCosh, A.S.B. 



