MAMMALIA— OTTER. 127 



This animal is of a brown color, marked sometimes with two white 

 stripes. The faculty this animal possesses, of annoying its enemies by the 

 discharge of a noisome fluid, causes it to be rather shunned than hunted, 

 which the value of its skin would otherwise be sure to occasion. The 

 smallest drop of this fluid is sufficient to render a garment detestable for a 

 great length of time. Washing, smoking, baking, or burying articles of 

 dress, seem to be equally inefficient for its removal. 



The skunk is generally found in the forests, having its den either in the 

 stump of an old tree, or in an excavation in the ground. It feeds on the 

 young of birds, and upon small quadrupeds, eggs, wild fruits, &c. It also 

 does much mischief in the poultry yard. 



THE OTTER.* 



The common otter is of a deep brown color, and is usually about two feet 

 in length from the tip of the nose to the insertion of the tail ; the head and 

 nose are broad and flat ; the mouth bears some similitude to that of a fish ; 

 the neck is short, and equal in thickness to the head ; the body long ; the 

 tail broad at the insertion, but tapering off to a point, and about sixteen 

 inches long ; the eyes are very small, and placed nearer to the nose than is 

 customary in quadrupeds. The legs are very short, but remarkably strong, 

 broad and muscular, and so placed as to be capable of being brought into a 

 a line with the body, and performing the office of fins ; and each foot is 

 furnished with five toes, connected by strong, broad webs, like those of 

 water fowl. 



Accurately considered, the otter cannot be pronounced an amphibious 

 animal. We even find them drowned, when they happen to have been 

 entangled in a net ; and this, evidently, for want of having had time to 

 destroy it, and thereby effect their escape. For want of fish, frogs, water 

 rats, or other nourishment, it will eat the young branches and the bark 

 of aquatic trees ; and in spring it will eat new grass. 



1 Lutra vulgaris, Lin. The genus Lutra has six upper and six lower incisors ; two 

 tipper and two lower canines ; ten upper and ten lower molars. Head large and flattened ; 

 ears short ; body long ; low upo~ the legs ; toes webbed ; nails crooked ; tail long, flattened 

 horizontally. 



