THE SYRIAN BEAR. 
Ursus syriaciis. 
Plate XVII. 
The Bears are a well-known group of animals belonging to the plantigrade section of the Carnivora, in which 
the whole sole of the foot is applied to the ground in walking. They are all large in size and heavy in 
structure, and though endowed with great strength and powers of resistance, are not usually formidable to 
mankind in their wild state, unless previously attacked. 
The species of this group are not very numerous. They are found principally in the northern portion of 
both hemispheres, not descending into Africa south of the Atlas range, and one solitax-y species only being 
found southwards of the Isthmus of Panama in the Andes of Peru. The Society’s Menagerie at present 
contains examples of the Polar Bear ( Thalassardos maritimus); of the European and American Bears ( Ursus 
arctos and U. amerieanus), of the Indian Sun-Bear ( Helarctos iibetanns ), and of the Sloth-Bear ( Prochilus labiatus) 
remarkable for its protrusible lips. This series alfords examples of all the sections into which the Bears have 
been usually divided by Naturalists. The celebrated Grizzly Bear, of North America, and the Isabelline Bear, 
of India, have also been formerly in the Society’s Gardens, but are at present desiderata to the collection. 
The Syrian Bear, which was first described by Messrs. Hempricli and Ehrenberg, in their work, entitled 
“ Symbol* Physic*,” relating to the Natural History of Syria and Arabia, is a scarce and little-known animal, 
closely allied to the Common Bear of Europe, and perhaps only a variety of that species, differing in its pale 
colouring. It inhabits the mountainous parts of Syria and adjoining regions of Western Asia, It is of some 
interest as being without doubt the animal referred to as the Bear in the Holy Scriptures, particularly in the 
Second Book of Kings [chap. ii. verse 24], 
The Society have lately possessed two fine specimens of Bears, both apparently referable to this species 
or variety, whichever it may be. One of these was presented in August, 1851, by Mr. Alderman Finnis, having 
been brought in one of his vessels from Bussorah in the Persian Gulf. This was the original of Mr. Wolf’s 
figure, having lived in the Society’s possession until its death, when it was purchased by the Trustees 
of the British Museum, and placed in the national collection. A second example of the Syrian Bear, 
deposited in the Gardens by the late Sir H. Ilunloke, Bart,, F.Z.S., was purchased by the Society of his 
executors after his death in 1856, and is still living in the Menagerie. 
