INTRODUCTORY NOTES. 9

and even the grizzly was thought doubtful,
a slight variation of the bear of Europe.

But the careful study of bears’ skulls has
changed all that, and our highest authority
on bears, Dr. C. Hart Merriam of the De-
partment of Agriculture, now recognizes
not less than ten species of bear in the limits
of the United States and Alaska.

In his latest paper (1896),a“Preliminary
Synopsis of the American Bears,” Dr. Mer-
riam groups these animals as follows:

I. POLAR BEARS.

1. PoLtAR BEAR: Thalarctos maritimus
Linnaeus. Found on all Arctic shores.

II. BLACK BEARS.

2. COMMON BuAcK BEAR (sometimes
brown or cinnamon): Ursus americanus
Pallas. Found throughout the United
States.

3. YELLOW BEAR (sometimes black or
brown): Ursus luteolus Griffith. Swamps
of Louisiana and Texas.

4, EVERGLADE Bear: Ursus floridanus
Merriam. Everglades of Florida.

5. GuacteR Bear: Ursus emmonsi Dall.
About Mount St. Elias.