URSID^. — CO. 341 



594. PHOCA Linnseus. (^mao;, seal.) 



1125. P. vitulinaL. Harbor Seal. Yellowish gray, usually 

 spotted or blotched with darker above ; variable. Fore feet short, 

 with five strong curved claws, subequal ; hind claws shorter, less 

 curved. L. 4 to 5 feet. N. Atl., S. to N. J., common N.,-seldom 

 far from shore. (Lat., calf-like.) (Eu.) Several other seals 

 occur N. of Newfoundland. 



Family CXCIX. PROCYONIDiE. (The Raccoons.) 

 Plantigrade Carnivora of moderate size, with the body compara- 

 tively slender and the tail well developed. Teeth i. |:|-; c. \z\^ 

 pm. f:^; m. -1:1 = 40. Sectorial tooth broad, tubercular. Snout 

 more or less elongated ; no caecum. Genera 4 or 5, all American. 

 a. Tail not prehensile ; snout moderate, not flexible. . . . Pkocyon, 595. 



595. PROCYON Storr. (TrpoKvav, before the dog.) 



1126. P. lotor (L.). Common Kaccoon. Grayish white ; hairs 

 black-tipped ; tail with black rings ; a black cheek-patch ; body 

 rarely entirely black. L. 33. T. 10^. U. S., N. to N. Y., S. On- 

 tario, and Minn., abundant. (Lat., washer.) 



Family CC. URSID-a!. (The Bears.) 



Plantigrade Carnivora having the body thick and clumsy. Tail 

 rudimentary. Teeth 42 ; molars f , broad and tuberculated, accord- 

 ing with the omnivorous diet. Genera 5 ; species about 15, mostly 

 widely distributed. The Polar Bear, Thalarctos maritimus, occurs 

 to the northward of our limits, and the huge Grizzly Bear, Ursus 

 horribUis ^ Ord, to the westward. The Brown Bear of Europe, 

 Ursvs arctos L., is closely related to the Grizzly. 

 a. Snout depressed, so that the profile does not form a straight line; soles 

 not fully furred ; claws moderate Ukshs, 596. 



596. URSUS Linnaeus. (Lat., bear.) 



1127. U. americanus Pallas. Brown, Black or Cinnamon 

 Bear. Color black or brownish. N. Am., abundant, where not 

 exterminated. 



1 Coward, — of heroic size 

 In whose lazy muscles lies 

 Strength we fear and yet despise ; 

 Savage, whose relentless tusks 

 Are content with acorn husks ; 

 Eobber, whose exploits ne'er soared 

 O'er the bee's or squirrel's hoard ; 

 Whiskered chin and feeble nose, 

 Claws of steel on baby's toes. (Bret Harte.) 



