IN CAPTIVITY IN LOWER BENGAL. 105 



a whitish brown patch oil each side of the lips ; its forehead is slightly 

 convex, ears prominent and oval, and are placed far apart than in the 

 grizzly bear. The fnr of the body long, shining and smooth, and that 

 about the shoulders wavy. The claws are black and generally covered 

 by the long dense hair of the feet. 



Sab. — North America, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from 

 Carolina River to the shores of the Arctic Sea. 



Length of life in captivity. 

 A specimen has been living since April 1888. 

 Treatment in health. 



Housing. — May be treated like the others. It must not be supposed 

 that, as being an inhabitant of a cold and temperate region, it can 

 be left exposed with impunity to draughts at night during the winter. 

 During the summer it must have plenty of water in its bath, as it likes 

 to wallow in it to keep itself cool. 



Food. — The specimen now in the collection is fed on biscuits chiefly ; 

 vegetables and grass it also eats, but boiled rice has been found not to 

 agree with it. 



Transport. — The same as the other species. 



Treatment in sickness. 



This bear has several times suffered from diarrhoea and hepatic 

 disorders ; the former was probably due to unsuitable diet, and the latter 

 to want of exercise. Change of diet and habitation did much good. 

 While recovering from diarrhoea it became subject to a kind of skin 

 disease ; to arrest the progress of this, sulphur and borax, two parts of 

 the former, and one part of the latter, were freely used as an external 

 application, and had the desirable effect ; flowers of sulphur mixed with 

 sugar was given internally. 



Observations on its habits. 



Mild in disposition. Unlike the brown and the grizzly bears, this 

 animal is less addicted to rearing on its hind legs (though this may be 

 the peculiarity of this particular animal, which is somewhat lazy in all 

 its movements) . It sleeps much during the day, and when the bath is 

 empty makes use of it for a bed : during the winter it carries all the 

 straw it is allowed for bedding to this place to lie upon. It receives 

 caresses with evident delight, and is extremely friendly with the keeper. 

 It is not at all noisy. For further information the books mentioned in 

 connection with the grizzly bear may be consulted. 



(110) THE MALAYAN BEAR. 



(URSUS MALAYAN US— Baffles.) 



Description. — A full-grown Malay bear seldom exceeds 4 feet and 

 6 inches in length. The chief characteristics of this species are its short 

 fur, small and rounded ears, and a very long tongue. Its short and 



