430 Broivn and Black Bears of the Himalayan Mountains. 



every member of the family, just as other markings — to wit, 

 spots and stripes — can be more or less traced throughout other- 

 wise very dissimilar species of the same group. 



As to the distinction between the Ursus arctos and the 

 Isabella coloured bear of the Himalaya, it will be found that 

 the difference rests only in the colouring of the tips of the 

 hair, and that, we have frequently observed, is not always a 

 sure criterion, as we have procured many specimens of the 

 bear in which the fur was in every way similar to that of the 

 other. No doubt the majority of the Isabella bears have the 

 tips of the hairs brownish white, but brown is the fundamental 

 colour. Some individuals, especially old males, are almost 

 maroon, whilst others vary from brown to brownish yellow, and 

 are a dirty white ; hence travellers speak of the ' ' White and 

 Brown bears of Cashmere" : it is evident, however, that neither 

 age nor sex determine the colour with any degree of accuracy. 

 We have frequently remarked, however, that the lighter coloured 

 individuals were mostly observed in spring, and at high 

 elevations, as if the long sojourn among the snow had brought 

 about the change in the tips of the hairs. In the Himalayan 

 brown bear the senses of sight and hearing are not nearly so 

 highly developed as smell, in which it would appear the 

 animal's safety mainly depends. This peculiarity seems more 

 or less constant in every member of the family. There are 

 few quadrupeds supposed to be more inactive in habits than 

 the bear ; but this is a great mistake, and has arisen doubtless 

 from observing the inmates of menageries and zoological 

 gardens : when aroused to exertion in the wild state, it will 

 scamper along a mountain side at a pace equal to the sharp 

 gallop of a "horse, and in ascending heights would certainly 

 soon outstrip any of its plantigrade congeners. When the first 

 skin of this bear was brought to Europe, and described by Dr. 

 Horsefield, it was supposed from the curved and sharp claws 

 that the animal is an expert tree climber : this, however, we can 

 vouch. for, is not the case ; moreover, as a rule, the claws are 

 not very acute, but well adapted to maintain a sure footing on 

 the slippery mountain sides and glaciers. 



The Isabella bear is found on the mountains of Armenia, 

 where it has long passed under the name of the " Syrian bear," 

 and is perhaps the animal referred to in the Bible ; a few still 

 linger on the Lebanon, and from the continued intercourse 

 between Egypt and the East, it is highly probable that this is 

 the species mentioned by ancient historians as the ( ' Lybian 

 bear." It is not rare on the Caucasus and high ranges of 

 Persia, Affghanistan, and Himalaya, at least as far eastward as 

 Nepaul, and probably much farther. 



Its extreme northern limits have not been accurately de- 



