436 Brown and Blade Bears of the Himalayan Mountains, 



bears yet found in the bogs and superficial drifts. It must, 

 however, be remarked, with reference to this point, that the 

 very old and very large Isabella bears form a small proportion 

 in comparison with the lesser sized individuals, and compre- 

 hend for the most part the denizens of the caves we have 

 before alluded to, where, in all probability, many end their 

 days, and their remains are frequently enveloped in calcareous 

 drippings, or other deposits. 



Climate and modes of life doubtless play important parts 

 in producing the external appearances of individuals called 

 varieties ; for it is not unreasonable to believe that by curtail- 

 ing the liberty and changing the food of a wild animal, by 

 driving it to seek new haunts and subsistence, which in its 

 former condition it would probably have eschewed, we are 

 establishing a new order of things in its economy, which in 

 process of time is likely enough to affect its physical develop- 

 ments. On the other hand, it would seem fair to suppose 

 that when animals are unmolested in their native haunts, and 

 allowed to follow their own inclinations, with abundance of 

 food suited to their growth and calculated to maintain 

 them in full vigour, they occupy their natural position in 

 creation ; whilst by becoming restricted to narrower limits, and 

 associated with man, or other dominant races, by whom they 

 are driven to modify their habits of life, and compelled to 

 submit for successive generations to degrading influences, it 

 is only in accordance with every-day experience to conclude 

 that a deterioration of race will result, but whether to the 

 extent of producing changes in the form of the skeleton as 

 well as in the dimensions and outward appearances of the 

 animal, have- not yet been clearly demonstrated. 



