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Updated: June 6, 2025
They learnt that there were at least two varieties known to the Kurilski and Koriac hunters. One of them was the more common kind a brown bear, closely resembling the ursus arctos; and the other also a brown bear; but with a whitish list running up from the under part of his throat, and meeting like a collar over the tops of his shoulders.
This done, they would have no further business in Lapland, but might proceed at once to the Pyrenees. It was not necessary to procure skins of the grey or silver bear, nor that with the white ring round its neck known as the ringed or collared bear. As Alexis had said, it is acknowledged by all who know the ursus arctos his native haunts, that these are mere accidental varieties.
Not only do both the black and brown bears of the Himalayas follow this habit, but also the ursus arctos, the grizzly, and the white. They always aim at the head, but more especially the face; and with a single "rake" of their spread claws, usually strip off both skin and flesh.
The same remark will apply to the Pyrenean bear that is true of the ursus arctos, viz., having once eaten flesh, he acquires a taste for it; and to gratify this, of course the fiercest passions of his nature are called into play. Hunger may have driven him to his first meal of flesh-meat; and afterwards he seeks it from choice.
Sir John first regarded this bear, though very doubtfully, as a variety of the ursus americanus, or American black bear. Later observations influenced him to change this opinion; and again with modest doubtfulness characteristic of the man he suggests his being a variety of the ursus arctos. We shall make bold to affirm that he is a variety of neither; but a distinct species of bear.
The Barren Ground bear, then, is not the ursus arctos, americanus, or ferox. What then? Has he received no specific name from the naturalists? Not yet. Alexis, however, bestowed one upon him. He named him after the man who has given the clearest account of his country and his habits; and whom Alexis deemed most worthy of the honour. In his journal we find the record.
This savage habit on the part of the bears our young hunters had long since noted; and that the black bear of the Himalayas followed the fashion of his kindred, they had now ample evidence. In his other habits which they learnt from the shikkaries, or village hunters this bear strongly resembles the ursus arctos of Northern Europe.
Our hunters did not remain at their bivouac longer than was absolutely necessary to swallow a hasty meal. They had been warned of the dangerous climate of the Terai, and hurrying on through it, reached the more elevated hill region before night. This animal has been usually regarded as a mere variety of the ursus arctos; but without the slightest reason.
The enormous size of the old males often weighing 1,000 pounds, and quite equalling the largest individuals of the ursus maritimus renders them easy of identification; though it is certain that under favourable circumstances the ursus arctos often attains to a similar bulk.
This characteristic is constant; and would of itself justify a distinction being made between the species; but there are many other points of greater importance. The ears of the grizzly are shorter, more conical, and set wider apart than in either the ursus americanus or arctos.
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