This pair has bred four times and reared some very fine cubs.
The Syrian Bear, (Ursus syriacus), is well represented by a fine specimen from Trebizond, Asia Minor. This bear is of a pale yellow color, with very high shoulders, narrow head and smooth pelage. The Syrian bear represents “the bears of the Bible,” which appeared in punishment of the children who were disrespectful to the prophet Elisha. Bears of this species are often trained to dance, and perform various tricks at command, and usually lead very miserable lives at the hands of gypsies and other bear specialists of nomadic habits.
SPECTACLED BEAR.
The Hairy-Eared Bear, (Ursus piscator), a species very rarely seen in captivity, is represented by two fine specimens from the Altai Mountains, Central Asia. This animal is sometimes called, on account of its peculiar light brown color, the Isabella Bear. Its more correct name has been bestowed on account of its large and very hairy ears. It inhabits northeastern Asia, as far southwestward as the Altai Mountains. The fine pair exhibited were presented to the Society by Mr. Carl Hagenbeck.
The Himalayan Black Bear, (Ursus torquatus), is the handsomest of the four living species of black bears, and can easily be identified anywhere by three distinct characters, neither of which is possessed by any other black bear. They are, a pure white chin, long side-whiskers on the jaws and sides of the neck and very large ears. Up to this date the geographic range of this very interesting animal has been recorded as extending from eastern Persia through Beluchistan, Afghanistan, Assam, and South China to Formosa; but the three specimens exhibited were taken in northern Japan, where the existence of this species seems to be established beyond question.
EUROPEAN BROWN BEAR.
Two cubs are nursing.
The Japanese Black Bear, (Ursus japonicus), from northern Japan, is one of the smallest of living bears, being only slightly larger than the Malay sun bear. In general appearance it suggests a small edition of the American black bear. The first specimen exhibited at the Zoological Park was very good-natured, but all these received since are nervous and irritable, and also very timid.
The Sloth Bear, (Ursus labiatus), often called the Long-Lipped Bear, can be recognized as far as it can be seen by its shaggy mop of enormously long, black hair, its white muzzle, and its very long, white claws. It is a creature of many peculiarities. It inhabits India generally in forest regions. This is Kipling’s “Baloo.”