CHARACTERISTICS. Most bears are bulky, and some exceed in size any other carnivore; but this appearance of bulk is largely due to the looseness of the skin, the length of the coarse fur of their coats, the lack of a visible tail, and the conparatiTe shortness of their legs, the whole sole of the foot being pressed to the ground, in stead of the toes only, as in most carnivores. In their relationships they stand between the dogs and the fur-bearers (Alustellidu), but their near est relatives are the raccoons. Their fossil an cestry is largely represented, and may be traced back to generalized forms in the early Tertiary, whence both clogs and bears seem to have de scended by divergent lines.
The bear's head is broad and massive, with extended and somewhat pointed jaws, well fur nished with teeth, but lacking the muscular power possessed by dogs. They have 6 cutting teeth above and 6 below, 1 canine tooth on each side in each jaw, with 4 false molars and 2 molars (or grinders) on each side above, and 4 false molars and 3 molars below. The false molars in general are soon shed. The true molars are very large, and have tuberculous crowns suitable for grinding the vegetable food which forms a large part of their fare. and which the loose articulation of the jaw permits. The skeleton is massive and the muscles 'plat ed' and of very great length, while the feet are armed with powerful claws adapted to dig ging in the ground and to mowing or tearing to pieces logs or rocks. All but the heaviest hears are able to climb trees. Their ordinary movements are slow and rather clumsy; yet, when impelled by rage or fear, they will run for a short distance, upon level ground, with a speed that taxes a horse to follow, and will make their way over rocks, rough ice, or up and down steep declivities, or among trees, with surpris ing quickness and agility. Their eyes are small and their eyesight is probably not very effective: but their hearing, though the ears are externally small, round, and furry, is acute, and their sense of smell is keen. Unless provoked or fearful for the safety of their young, they are not usu ally aggressive in disposition, but are likely to display curiosity, rising upright upon their hind legs and surveying the intruder eahnly. They are rarely cowardly, and when angered or brought to bay will defend themselves or attack most fiercely, seeking to strike their enemy down, or to seize him in a crushing hug and tear him to pieces with their teeth. The larger northern bears are, therefore, justly regarded as very dan gerous beasts.
Food and Reprodaction.—Bears are adapted by their teeth and digestive organs to a wide vari ety in food, and no animal is more onmivorous.
Besides the flesh of such animals as they can capture, including pigs, calves, colts, and sheep, they eat fish (the chief diet with some species) and reptiles. They are also fond of fruits, berries. bulbous roots, leaves, herbs, grass, and birds' eggs, and of insects and honey, for which they will dig up anthills and tear to pieces bees' nests and logs. They require an abundance of water, and are not loth to enter it, some species being remarkably strong swimmers. They go about in pairs, or sometimes in small bands, and are diurnal rather than nocturnal in their habits, though often abroad at night. Each family has some sort of •lair in a caa•e, dense thicket, or some similar place, varying with the circum stances; and there, in the early spring, are brought forth from one to four (usually two) young, which will remain with the mother until fairly well grown. The period of gestation is abort seven months. In cold contries the birth of the young finds the mother still in hiberna tion, which is more or less complete for all the northern species, according to the degree of cold and the amount of snow, which prevents their seeking or obtaining much food. Hence, when they come out in the spring they are likely to be thin and weak. The voice of bears is ex pressed in whines and coughing growls.
1'ur.—The skin of bears forms a fur pelt use fill for robes, overcoats, and rugs, and increasing in value with its growing rarity. A com plete and ornamentally mounted skin, in the form of a rug, is worth in New York from $75 to $1000 for that of a polar bear, $100 to $500 for a grizzly, and `;50 to $250 for a black or brown bear. The flesh is good food, the fat is valuable for the ungnent called hear's grease, and the teeth and claws are turned into orna ments by civilized as well as savage artisans.
CLAssIFIcATioN. The classification of bears is not yet satisfactorily determined, for several so-called species of wide distribution wary and blend confusingly. Naturalists of good ,judgment have even asserted that all the brown and black bears of the world are identical in species, leav ing only the polar hear as another species. Or dinarily, however, the following species are rec ognized: Polar Bear, and perhaps the Brown Bear (Circnmpolar), Brown Bear, Himalayan Black Bear, Japanese Bear. Sloth Bear, and Sun Bear (Old World) : Black Pear, Grizzly, Glacier Bear. liadiak. Pall's Alaskan, and Barren-ground Bears—the last three, perhaps varieties of the Brown Bear (North America) : Spectacled Bear (South America) . See Plate of 1 GARS.