The American black B. (ursus Americanus) is found in all parts of North America. Its total length seldom exceeds 5 feet. The fur is soft and smooth, and generally of a glossy black; but there are varieties of other colors, as the cinnamon B., the yellow B.. etc. The American black B. usually exhibits a timid disposition; seldom attacks man: feeds chiefly on berries, when they can be obtained; occasionally visits gardens for the sake of cabbages and other vegetables; and strongly prefers vegetable to animal food, butt has recourse to the latter when pressed by hunger, and in such circumstances occa sionally approaches human habitations and captures pigs, which it endeavors to carry off. In such cases the B. walks on its hind-legs, the pig being firmly squeezed between its fore-paws and breast, making a noise which frequently leads to a rescue. This and other species of B., when assailed, not unfrequently hug their adversaries in the manner here described, when their strength renders them very dangerous. The skin of the American black B. is used for caps, rugs, etc., and great numbers are annually killed i upon this account, chiefly by the Indians in the employment of the Hudson's bay com pany. Almost 10.000 skins are annually imported into Britain, of which, however, the greater part are again exported. In the beginning of the nth c., the number imported was more than twice as great as now; the skins were also of much higher price. A B.'s skin is still worth from £1 to S.:3.—The grizzly B. (U. ferox) of North America, found chiefly on the Rocky mountains and the plains to the eastward of them, from Mexico to lat. 01* n., is mach larger than either of 'the species already noticed, and much more fierce and carnivorous. It sometimes measures more than 0 ft. from nose to tail, and the claws of the fore-feet more than 0 in. in length. It has a lengthened and narrowed muzzle, a very short tail, and long grizzled hair. No animal of the new world is more formidable than the grizzly B. It is capable of overpowering the bison, and dragging away the huge carcass. It feeds, however, also on fruits and roots.—The arctic B., or polar B., also called the white B. (U. maritimus), resembles this species in size and fierce ness, but is very distinctly characterized by its flat head and comparatively long neck. It has a smooth white fur. It is the only known species of B. which is strictly marine in its habits, never being found far from the sea. It inhabits the most northerly shores of Asia and America, Spitzbergen, etc., where it pursues seals, both in the water and upon the ice, and preys upon fishes, birds, etc. Amongst the articles of its food are eggs and berries in their season, and in confinement it will subsist long' on bread and other vegetable food. Like other species of the genus, it displays great affection for
its youno., and will brave all dangers in their defense.—Of other species of B. the Syrian (U. Syriaeus) may be mentioned, as perhaps the species particularly intended by the name B. in the Old Testament. It is generally of a dingy-white or brown color, and has a stiff mane of erect hairs between the shoulders. Flocks arc not safe from it, yet it more frequently commits ravages on crops of pulse. In its habits generally, it much resembles the common B.; as do also the Thibet B. (U. Tibetanus), and the spectacled B. (U. ornatus), so called from semicircular yellow marks above its eyes. a native of the Andes of Chili.—The long-lipped B., or sloth B. (U. labi atus), of the East Indies, is the kind commonly led about by Indian jugglers. Its long hair, short limbs, high back, peculiarly uncouth appearance, and gentleness of disposi tion, recommend it for this purpose. In a wild state, it is said to feed chiefly on fruits, honey, and ants. It possesses in a remarkable degree the power, common in some measure to all the bears, of protruding the lips in order to lay hold of food.—Some other East Indian species, which feed chiefly on fruits and honey, are known as sun-bears, as the Malayan B. (U. Malayanus) and the Bornean B. (U. euryspilus). They are charac terized by an extremely long extensile tongue. They are of gentle disposition, and become very affectionate when tamed. Sir Stamford Raffles had a Malayan B., which was very playful and quite harmless, although a powerful animal; and which showed refinement of taste in refusing to eat any fruit but the mangosteen, or to drink any wine hut champagne. This species in a wild state does much damage to cocoa-nut planta tions, by climbing the trees, and eating off the terminal bud, when it is said also to drink the sap (toddy) which flows out in abundance.
Remains of several extinct species of B. have been discovered in caves in Germany, England, and other countries, sonic of which appear to have been larger than the present bears of Europe, and of more decided carnivorous propensities. Of these, the U. spekus, or great cavern B., has the skull of considerable vertical elevation from the upper end of the muzzle, and larger than that of the biggest brown bear. The U. aretoideus has a skull nearly of the configuration of that of the U. Americanus, and of the size of that of U. spete'us. The U. priseus, or ancient B., has the skull of a smaller size, and differing less from that of living bears.