BEARS. 
33 
In addition to these external characteristics, the parti-coloured bear also 
presents some peculiar features in regard to the skull and teeth. Thus the skull is 
remarkable for the great width of the zygomatic arches and the enormous develop¬ 
ment of the longitudinal ridge on the upper-surface of the brain-case, both these 
features indicating greater power of jaw than has at present been found in any 
other member of the entire carnivorous order. Then, again, the teeth differ both in 
number and form from those of all the other Ursidse. Instead of the forty-two teeth, 
characteristic of the typical bears, the parti-coloured bear has but forty teeth, all 
told; the diminution in number being due to the absence of the first pair of premolar 
THE PARTI-COLOURED BEAR. 
teeth in the lower jaw. As regards form, the molar teeth are distinguished from 
those of other bears by their shorter and wider crowns; this being most marked in 
the first molar of the upper jaw, which is broader than it is long. The second 
upper molar tooth agrees, however, with the corresponding tooth of other bears in 
being longer than the one in front of it. The pattern formed by the tubercles 
on the crowns of these teeth is exceedingly complex, and approaches to that 
obtaining in the panda, among the raccoon family, to be noticed in the next 
chapter. 
The parti-coloured bear is reported to inhabit the most inaccessible districts of 
Eastern Tibet, and to be of extremely rare occurrence. Unfortunately we are 
at present quite ignorant of its habits, although it is said to feed chiefly on roots 
and the young shoots of bamboos, and to be entirely herbivorous. 
VOL. ii.—3 
