be. Moreover, it should be remembered that it is only a few years
since the bears of the Himalayas, of the Great Andes of America, and
those of the East-Indian islands--and even the bear of Mount Lebanon--
became known to the scientific world. Why, then, should there not be a
species in Africa--perhaps more than one--though civilised people are
yet unacquainted with it?"

"But you say we are not going to Africa?"

"No; our instructions relate only to every variety of bear known to
naturalists; and the African bear does not come under this category--
since it has not yet been described by any naturalist. For that reason
we shall have no errand into Africa."

"Then, surely North America is our next stage?"

"Certainly not--you are aware that there is a South American bear."

"Yes, the `spectacled bear,' as he is called."

"Just so--the _ursus ornatus_. I think we shall find two species in
South America, though that is also a disputed point."

"Well, brother, what if we should?"

"Why, both will be found in the Andes of Chili and Peru, and not in the
eastern parts of South America."

"And how should that affect our route of travel?"

"Very essentially indeed. Were we to go first to North America, we
should find no less than five species, or four species and one
well-marked variety. To reach the native haunt of one of these--I mean
the grizzly (_ursus ferox_)--we should have to go farther west than any
part of the South American Andes: how, then, could we afterwards reach
the spectacled bear without doubling back on our meridian?"

"True, brother--I see that, by looking on the map. You propose, then,
steering first to South America, and afterwards to the northern division
of the American continent?"

"We are compelled to do so, by the very nature of our contract. Having
procured the skins of _ursus ornatus_ and another variety we shall find
in the Andes, we can then travel almost due north. On the Mississippi
we shall be able to pick up a skin of the American black bear (_ursus
americanus_), and by the help of the Hudson's Bay _voyageurs_ we shall
reach the shores of the great gulf in which that territory takes its
name. There the `polar bear' (_ursus maritimus_) can be found. Farther
westward and northward we may hope to capture the `barren ground bear,'
which the English traveller Sir John Richardson thinks is only a variety
of our European brown bear, but which papa--and good reasons he has--
bel