imilar to the last, to which it
is also similar in shape. In colour it differs essentially. It is
black, but with a buff snout, and buff rings round the eyes, which give
it that appearance whence it derives its trivial name. Its throat and
breast are whitish.

There is at least one other species of black bear indigenous to South
America, inhabiting the tropical forests; but very little is known of
it--further than that it is one of the smallest of the tribe.

We now reach the Asiatic bears, properly so called; and we have only
space to say a word about each.

The _Siberian bear_ is thought to be only a variety of the brown bear of
Europe, differing slightly in colour. In the former there is a broad
band, or collar, of white passing over the neck and meeting upon the
breast. It is, as its name implies, an inhabitant of Siberia.

The _Thibet bear_ is a dweller among the Himalayas--in Sylhet and
Nepaul. Its general colour is black, with a white mark, shaped like the
letter Y; so placed that the shank of the letter is upon its breast, and
the forks running up the front of its shoulders. It is not carnivorous,
and, generally, its disposition is harmless and playful. It is easily
tamed.

The _Sloth bear_ is another Indian species having this peculiar marking
on the breast and shoulders. This animal is one of the oddest of
creatures. Its short limbs and depressed head, with the long shaggy
hair surmounting its back like a bullock, give it the appearance of
being deformed. On this account it was the favourite of the Indian
jugglers, who, depending on its ugliness as a source of attraction,
trained it to a variety of tricks. It is therefore sometimes known as
the jugglers' bear (_Ours jongleur_). It has also a peculiar prehensile
power in its lips; and this, with its general shaggy mien, led to the
belief of its being a species of sloth--hence its common name.

The _Malayan bear_ is another black species, with a marking on the
breast. This mark is of a semi-lunar shape, and whitish; but the colour
of the muzzle is buff-yellow. This is a very handsome species,
subsisting on vegetable diet; and very injurious to the plantations of
young cocoa trees, of the shoots of which it is very fond. It is also a
honey eater; and roams about in quest of the hives of the indigenous
bees. It is a native of Malacca, Sumatra, and others of the East Indian
islands.

The _Isabella bear_ is so called from its colour--being o