204 Explorations in the Bone Cave of Ballynamintra. 
As to size and dimensions of teeth, neither in the case of the largest grisly and 
brown bears are the bones and teeth so large as the generality of the so-called Ursus 
ferox fossilis and U. speleus. Again, in these living and lost species the small dis- 
tinctions referring to the contours and characters of certain teeth, as pointed out by 
Busk* seem to vary in individuals, whilst the appendicular skeleton offers no in- 
variable points of distinction. The only bear now living, whose dental and skeletal 
characters and dimensions approach nearest to the extinct animal, is the Ursus ferow, 
which is probably the lineal descendant of the Ursus fossils and U. speleus ; more- 
over, the two last-named may have been only small and large races or even 
individual or sexual states of one species. 
From considerable field experience of the habits of the brown bear of Central 
Asia, and in comparing its morphology with the European brown bear, grisly bear, 
and the extinct cavern forms, I was struck, in the case of the first, with the modifi- 
cations dependent on the struggle for existence. The teeth are relatively small, 
and more porcine on their crown surfaces than appears to be the case in the carni- 
vorous, grisly, and the European brown bears, for the reason that the Asiatic 
form, restricted to high mountain ranges, where it hibernates for upwards of five 
months, subsists entirely on roots, herbs, and fruits. It is timid, and unless under 
severe pressure, will rarely attack man, and it is not fleet enough to prey on the 
Alpine ungulates and other animals. The light colour of the fur consorts with that 
of the surrounding objects. Sometimes three premolars exist in the jaws of old indi- 
viduals, and invariably the first and fourth premolars. 
The grisly still preys on the bison, and no doubt the extinct forms enjoyed un- 
limited advantages with respect to animal food and freedom, and therefore would 
naturally attain to larger dimensions than the recent allied forms ; whilst both would 
become larger and more ferocious than the herbivorous brown bear, or any species 
compelled to subsist altogether, like the Himalayan brown bear, on a vegetable 
diet. 
As far, therefore, as dimensions are concerned, the bones and teeth found in Bally- 
namintra cave maintain the characters of all the other Irish ursine remains which, 
according to Busk, are referable to Ursus ferox of the Rocky Mountains of North 
America. It is my impression, however, that the modifications in the skeletal ele- 
ments of all these so-called species are so slight, and subject to such variability, 
that they might fairly represent races of one typical form or species—to wit, the 
great cavern bear of the Pleistocene period. 
Tur Banger (Miles taxus). 
An entire skull (No. 493), with its mandible shghtly blackened, and the crowns of 
the molars much detrited, was found in No. 2 deposit. This plantigrade is still 
not uncommon in the district. 
* See Reports on Animals’ Remains from Brixham and Gibraltar Caverns—“ Phil. Trans.” for 1863, 
p. 542, “Trans. Zool. Soc. London,” vol. x., p. 53. 
