The Admiralty Bear, (Ursus eulophus), represents a large species originally discovered on Admiralty Island, southern Alaska. Its dark brown color is very much like that of the Yakutat and Kadiak bears.
The Grizzly Bear, or “Silver-Tip Grizzly,” (Ursus horribilis).—The rapid disappearance of this species from the United States renders all living examples of it specially interesting.
Of all bears, the Silver-Tip Grizzly is the most savage and dangerous. He is easily angered, and when wounded or harried not only becomes furiously vindictive, but he also possesses a degree of courage which renders him a dangerous antagonist. As a general thing, a Grizzly Bear, like a lion or tiger, will run as soon as he discovers the presence of his only enemy—man; but if he is wounded or cornered—or thinks he is cornered—he assumes the aggressive, without an instant’s delay. Unfortunately, the largest Silver-Tip Grizzlies ever killed have been too far from scales to make it possible to weigh them.
The most interesting specimen of the Rocky Mountain Silver-Tip now on exhibition is a dark-colored and very handsome specimen, named “Engineer,” obtained in Meeker, Colorado, by Professor Henry F. Osborn, and presented to the Society by the Engineers’ Club of New York City. The color of this individual is darker than the most common type of the Silver-Tip, which is sometimes almost as gray as a badger.
A very beautiful male Silver-Tip, from Wyoming, is much lighter in color than the Colorado specimen. Its face and head are so light-colored it would be called by Rocky Mountain hunters a “Bald-Faced” Grizzly. A third specimen was obtained for the Society at White Horse, Yukon Territory, in 1905, and its development will be watched with much interest. Throughout the Rocky Mountain region the “Silver-Tip” and the “Grizzly” are identical; but the color of the species varies considerably.
In a wild state Grizzly Bears live on berries and fruits of all kinds available, succulent roots, grubs, carrion if it comes handy, and live game if it can be killed. In the cattle-growing states bordering the Rocky Mountains, owing to their cattle-killing propensities, a bounty of from twelve to fifteen dollars per head is paid for their destruction.
The Black Bear, (Ursus americanus).—Until quite recently all black bears in North America were referred to a single species, with the type of which most persons are familiar. Even during the last twenty years living representatives of the Black Bear group have been found in nearly every state and territory of the United States, and also in northern Mexico, Labrador, Province of Quebec, Alberta, Assiniboia, British Columbia, Alaska, and the Mackenzie River basin. Our collection contains Black Bears representing several widely separated localities.
The Spectacled Bear, (Ursus ornatus).—After ten years of constant effort the Zoological Park finally acquired late in 1910, a fine male specimen of the very rare and little known Spectacled Bear of the Andes of Ecuador and Peru. This zoological prize was procured for us in Quito, by Mr. Edgar Beecher Bronson (Author of “In Closed Territory,”) and by him presented to the Society. “Frederico” is distinguished by a glossy jet-black coat, very small ears, long feet and a large imperfect circle of white around each eye, with white bands down the cheeks and throat. In size it matches a small American black bear. As soon as the new bear dens are finished, this animal will be removed from the Small-Mammal House to one of them. If this species was ever before exhibited in North America, we have never heard of it.
The Andean Black Bear, (Ursus ornatus thomasi), from Southern Columbia, South America, is a subspecies of the spectacled bear, with no “spectacles” around its eyes, and no white markings save under its chin and throat. This specimen is smaller than the one from Quito. Practically nothing is known of the habits of these two species.
The Brown Bear of Europe, (Ursus arctos), is represented by two specimens from Central Russia which bear a general resemblance to Rocky Mountain grizzlies. This is so striking that were they not labeled very few persons would suspect their European birth. They have the high shoulders and grizzly brown coat of the silver-tip, and in the Rocky Mountains would be considered good examples of Ursus horribilis.