110 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 
unlike those of other carnivora. 
The teeth generally show that 
bears have a mixed diet. 
Bears appear to have de- 
scended from some dog-like 
ancestor, but to have been 
much modified. 
Except the ice-bear, all 
the species are short and very 
bulky. It is said that a polar 
bear has been killed which 
weighed 1,000 lbs. It is far 
the largest, and most formida- 
ble in some respects, of all the 
carnivora. The claws of the 
grizzly bear are sometimes 5 
inches long over the outer 
curve. All bears can sit up- 
right on their hams, and stand 
upright against asupport likea 
tree. Some can stand upright 
with noaidatall. Except the 
grizzly bear, they can all climb, 
many of them very well. In 
the winter, if it be cold, they 
hibernate. Inthe spring, when 
the shoots of the early plants 
come up, they emerge, hungry 
and thin, to seek their food. 
Bears were formerly common 
in Britain, and were exported 
EUROPEAN BROWN BEAR 
for the Roman amphitheatres. Pn nee rer eee Te AOE 
; n e specimen of the brown bear of Europe from which this picture was taken was an unusually 
The prehistoric cave-bears light and active bear, Its flanks are almost flat 
were very large. Their re- 
mains have been found in Devon, Derbyshire, and other counties. The species inhabiting Britain 
during the Roman period was the common brown bear of Europe. 
ep matt MEE so 
“Photo by Ottomar “Anschiitss] 
Tue Common Brown Bear. 
Only one species of bear is found in Europe south of the ice-line, though above it the white 
ice-bear inhabits Spitzbergen and the islands off the White Sea. This is the Brown Bear, the 
emblem of Russia in all European caricature, and the hero of innumerable fragments of folk- 
lore and fable, from the tents of the Lapps to the nurseries of American children. Except the ice- 
bear, it is far the largest of European carnivora, but varies much in size. Russia is the main home 
of the brown bear, but it is found in Sweden and Norway, and right across Northern Asia. It is also 
common in the Carpathian Mountains, in the Caucasus, and in Mount Pindusin Greece. IntheSouth 
it is found in Spain and the Pyrenees, and a few are left in the Alps. The dancing-bears commonly 
brought to England and America are caught in the Pyrenees. The “ Queen’s bear,” so called 
because its owner was allowed to exhibit it at Windsor, was one of these. But lately dancing- 
bears from Servia and Wallachia have also been seen about our roads and streets. In Russiathe bear 
grows to a great size. Some have been killed of 800 Ibs. in weight. The fur is magnificent in 
