152 WILD BEASTS OF THE WORLD 



narrower head. It is also not constant in colour, being often brown, in 

 which case it is known as the Cinnamon Bear ; the brown form is, how- 

 ever, a mere variety, for a brown cub may even be brother to a black one. 

 It is the characteristic Bear of North America, being much less local 

 than the formidable Grizzly, and maintaining itself even in long-settled 

 districts much better than the Wolf, which animal long survives the 

 Brown Bear in Europe. Like the Brown Bear and Himalayan Bear, it 

 is omnivorous, and much resembles them in its 'habits ; it is seldom 

 dangerous to man. 



THE MALAYAN BEAR 



( Ursus malayanus) 



The Malayan Bear, which is not much larger than a Mastiff, is remarkable 

 for having a short close coat, like a smooth-coated Dog, which shows off 

 to the full its bearish awkwardness of form. Its head is particularly short. 

 The colour is black, with a yellowish white patch of variable size and 

 form on the chest. This Bear, which ranges from the Eastern Himalayas 

 through Malacca to Borneo, is the most active climber of all Bears, and 

 exceedingly amusing in captivity by its playful ways ; it is often seen in 

 menageries. It has very little of the carnivore in its tastes for food, being 

 chiefly a vegetarian, with more than the usual, love for sweets. 



THE SPECTACLED BEAR 



{Ursus ornaius) 



South America is not the place in which one would expect to find a Bear, 

 but the present species inhabits the Andes, where it is not very common, 

 and little is known about it. It is a rather small animal for a Bear, and 

 has a moderately thick black coat, enlivened by the white rings round the 

 eyes which give it its name. It has been exhibited at the London 

 Zoological Gardens, but not in recent years. 



