FLESH-EATING MAMMALS. 



75 



countries all hibernate during the inclement season, their hiding-places 

 being frequently caverns, the clefts of rocks, or hollow trees. The typical 

 genus l/rsiti, in which there are 42 teeth, and some of the premolars are de- 

 ciduous, includes all the existing members of the family except two. Of 

 these the polar bear (Z7. maritimus) of the Arctic regions stands apart from 

 the rest on account of its relatively smaller head, small and narrow molars, 

 more hairy soles, and creamy white colour. Its food consists mainly of flesh. 

 The brown bear {IT. ardus) is a very widely-spread species, ranging all over 

 Europe and Northern Asia, and represented in Syria by one variety {U. 

 syriacus), in the Himalaya by the pale isabelline bear (U. isabdUnns), and in 

 North America by the grizzly bear {U. horrihilh) and the American black 

 bear (JJ. americanus), both of which are now considered merely as varieties of 

 the European species. The Himalayan black bear ( U. turipKihis), with shagLry 

 black fur and a white gorget, is a very distinct species ; as is also the small 

 Malayan bear(?7. malayanus), rang- 

 ing from North-Eastern India to 

 the Malayan countries, and dis- 

 tinguished by its long extensile 

 tongue and short black fur, with a 

 light gorget on the throat. Another 

 well-marked form is the spectacled 

 bear {U. ornatus) of the Chilian 

 Andes. With the exception of U. 

 crowther, of the Atlas range, which 

 may be only a variety of the common 

 species, Africa has no bear. The 

 Indian sloth hear {Mchirsus ursinns) 

 differs in having only two pairs of 

 upper incisor teeth, small molars, 

 large extensile lips, and a deejjy hollowed palate ; the black fur being very 

 long, loose, and harsh, and tlie throat marked by the usual light gorget. It 

 feeds chiefly on ants, other insects, fruit, flowers and honey. Blore different 

 than all is the parti -coloured bear {^luropiis melanolinicus) of Tibet, with a 

 total of 40 teeth, the premolars large and, except the first, two-rooted, and 

 the first upper molar broader than long, instead of longer than broad, as in 

 other bears. In colour it is black and white, with black rings round tlie eyes. 

 Mainly American, the raccoon tribe includes small carnivores with two 

 pairs of molars in each jaw, wliich may be either many-cusped or tuber- 

 culated, a short and broad upper carnassial tooth, planti- 

 grade feet, and the tail ringed. The single Old World form Raccoon Tribe, 

 is the panda or cat-bear (^Inriis fiilijens) of the Eastern Family Pro- 

 Himalaya, which is a reddish-coloured animal, of the size of cyonida:. 

 a cat, with a long, ringed tail. It has a total of 38 teeth, 

 very broad many-cusped upper molars, and a curiously rounded and vaulted 

 skull. The face is cat-like, the ears are moderate and rounded, and the 

 limbs stout, with large partially retractile claws. The panda is a good 

 climber, and feeds chiefly upon vegetable substances. The American raccoons 

 (Frocyon) have 40 teeth, broad and tuberculated molars, and three lobes to 

 the blade of the upper carnassial. The body is stout, tlie head broad, with 

 a sharp muzzle, the whole sole of the ioot not applied to the ground in 

 walking, and the toes capable of being widely spread, with .sharp non-retractile 

 claws. The tail is rather short and ringed, and the fur thick and soft. 



Fig. 44.-— Parti-coloubed Beau 

 {^EUiiv^JUS vidaiioleiicus). 



