1879. | Geography and Travels. 791 
GEOLOGY AND PALÆONTOLOGY. 
Tue CAvE BEAR OF CALIFORNIA.—In exploring a cavern in the 
Carboniferous limestone of Shasta county, Cal., James D. Rich- 
ardson discovered the skull of a bear beneath several inches of 
cave earth and stalagmite. The specimen is in a good state of 
preservation, and demonstrates that the cave bear of that region 
was a species distinct alike from the cave bear of the East (Ursus 
pristinus), and from any of the existing species. In dimensions 
the skull equals that of the grizzly bear, but it is very differently 
proportioned. The muzzle is much shorter, and is wide, and 
descends ny, downwards from the very convex frontal 
region. It wants the large postorbital processes of the grizzly, 
but has the caherosities of the polar bear (U. maritimus), which 
it also resembles in the peices of the front. Sagittal crest 
well developed. Three (one median and tigi are incisive 
foramina: three external infraorbital foramina. The teeth are 
large, and the series presents the peculiarity of being Tpithout 
diastema. The crowns of the premolars are not preserved, but if 
there were not three premolars, the second tooth has two well 
developed roots. First true molar with but two external and one 
internal tubercle. The absence of diastema renders it necessary to 
separate this bear from the true Ursi, and I propose to regard it, 
provisionally, as a species of grea Gerv. The canine teeth 
are large and compressed at t ase. Length of cranium along 
base from below apex of union un premaxillary border, m. 0.38 
length to posterior nares, .202; elevation of forehead vertically 
above the posterior extremity ‘of the last molar, .141; width 
between inner border of posterior molars, .076. The species may 
be called Arctotherium simum—E, D . Cope. 
GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVELS.' 
THE SWEDISH Arctic EXPEDITION.—An account of the voyage 
of the Vega up to August 27, 1878, at the mouth of the Lena 
river was given in our number for February last. After separating 
from the Leza they steered north-east toward the most southern 
of the New Siberian islands. These islands are remarkable for 
coeval animal forms, which are found on them more abundantly 
than in the Tundra of the continent. A really thorough scientific 
examination of these islands has yet to be made. 
Continuing on their course in the ice-free channel along the 
coast they reached the Baranov islands on the 3d of September. 
Koljutschin bay 67° 6’ N. and 173° 15’ W., where they passed 
the winter. From letters from Prof. Nordenskiöld and from the 
1 Edited by ELis H. YARNALL, Philadelphia. 
