104 
ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 
to be a variety of the black species, exhibiting the same 
tendency to albinism, but in a far inferior degree. 
In his more usual condition the animal is covered 
with a thick coat of long, soft, vs^oolly hair, w^hich in 
the younger individuals is of a deep brov^n v^ith a tinge 
of gray on the body, and becomes nearly black upon 
the legs and feet ; w^hile in the more advanced age it 
presents a mixture of yellowish gray and fawn-colour, 
giving to the fur a grizzled appearance. The forehead 
rises suddenly from behind the eyes, assuming a regu- 
larly convex form, but not elevated to any great extent ; 
the muzzle is broad, prominent, and terminating in a 
moveable extremity, the mobility, however, being most 
remarkable in the upper lip, which is capable of being 
protruded much beyond the nostrils ; and the eyes are 
extremely small. The usual size of the full grown 
animal is about four feet in length and nearly two feet 
and a half in height. The length of the head is about 
a foot ; that of the fore feet eight inches ; and that of 
the hinder feet something greater, reckoning from the 
heel to the extremity of the claws. The latter are fully 
two inches in length, considerably curved, and nearly 
equal on either extremity. 
In his native state the Brown Bear is one of the 
most solitary animals in existence. Far from seeking 
the company of his fellows, he remains associated with 
his female only during a short period, and then retires 
to his winter retreat. This asylum is generally formed 
by the hollow of a tree, by a natural cavity in the earth, 
or by the cleft of a rock ; but is sometimes entirely 
constructed by the animal himself from the branches of 
trees comfortably lined with moss. Here he continues, 
for the most part in a state of lethargy, abstaining 
altogether from food, and subsisting upon the absorption 
