BEARS, a family (Ursidce) of large, heavy, long-haired, plantigrade, carnivorous mammals, scattered throughout all the northern hemi sphere and some parts of the tropics. They are absent from Africa (except the Atlas Mountains, which zoologically belong to Europe) and from Australasia. In their structure and dentition they are allied to the dogs on one hand, and to the badgers, weasels, skunks, etc. (Mustelidce), on the other. The head is broad, and the jaws extended and rather narrow, but not' so powerful as those of dogs or hyenas; while the teeth are complete and large, the molars especially being broad and tuberculous, fitting them well for crushing the vegetable fare so largely eaten by this group. The skeleton is massive; the limbs are of great strength and furnished with long and powerful claws for digging and use in fighting. The whole sole of the foot rests upon the ground, leaving a footprint much resembling that of a man. Ordinarily they move about rather slowly and clumsily, yet all except the heaviest bears climb trees, and the largest scramble over rocks or ice with surprising agility; and all, when urged by rage or fear, can get over the ground at great speed, their gait being a lumbering but effective gallop. Their ears, though small, are highly developed, and their hearing is perhaps of more service to them than is their eye-sight; but neither equals in keenness the nose, which seems to be extremely sensitive. In respect to food, bears are truly omnivorous, taking flesh, fish or vegetable materials as circumstances favor. They seize such small animals of the woods as cannot avoid them, and near settle ments raid the herds of swine and flocics of sheep and cattle, especially in search of the young ones. All bears eat fish, and some, like the Polar and the Kadialc bear, live almost wholly upon this diet, catching the fishes clev erly from the shore by.a stroke of the paw, or going into the water after them. Reptiles, crabs, crayfish, etc., are eaten also; and insects form a large part of their fare, especially ants and honey-making bees and wasps. They dig up ant hills and overturn rotting logs and stumps for the former, and search out and tear to pieces the combs of the latter, well pro tected against stings by their long hair. They also eat succulent leaves and herbage, certain roots, fruit, and especially sweet acorns and berries, of which they are exceedingly fond. The RocIcy Mountain Indians used to burn over certain tracts of mountain-side annually in order to keep the oaks low and promote the growth of certain berry-bearing bushes in order to attract the bears. They dnnk a great deal of water, enjoy going into it and will swim long distances.
Bears are nowhere very numerous, each pair or family occupying a district and keeping it fairly well to itself. When, as f requently hap
pens, three or four are seen together, they are likely to be old and young of the same family. Their home is usually some cave or crevice among rocks, a hollow tree, a tangle of wind thrown logs or a dense thicket. There, in the early spring, are born the young, usually two, sometimes four; and in the case of the Arctic species, this often happens under the snow, be fore the female is released from her hiberna tion. The young remain with the mother until fully grown, and when they are little she guards and controls them with great solicitude and will rush at an intruder. At other times bears are rather shy and will usually endeavor to re treat, yet, when brought to bay, fight with great courage and are among the most dangerous animals man can encounter. Their attack is made with both teeth and claw, striking down or clasping the foe in a crushing embrace and then tearing him with the teeth. They can easily be tamed, however, remain friendly and prove intelligent and docile to a limited ex tent. They submit well to confinement, endure change of climate and breed readily in cap tivity. The close family likeness throughout the group has made their distinction into natural species a matter of much dispute and uncer tainty. Everyone recognizes the great white