74 FAUNA AMERICANA. 



Variety. L. marina, with a white head, Diet, 

 des Science, Nat. fascic 7, p. 19. 



Habit. During the winter residing sometimes 

 upon the ice, at others, on the borders of the sea; 

 occasionally following the courses of rivers even 

 up to fresh water lakes ; living in pairs ; the fe- 

 male brings forth but one at a time, after a gesta- 

 tion of eight or nine months ; feeding on Crustacea, 

 shells, sea worms, fish, fruits cast on shore during 

 the summer, fuci, &c. 



Inhabit the coasts of North America, particular- 

 ly the north-west of this continent ; they exist 

 also on the eastern coast of Kamtchatka, and 

 neighbouring islands. This animal is hunted for 

 its skin, which is very valuable. 



The Canada otter, {Mustela hudsonica, Lacep.) 

 is probably the same animal. 



Ge7iiis. 



Canis, Linn. Briss. Penn. Erxleb. Bodd. Cuv. 

 Geoff. lUig. Desm. 



CHAHACTEHS. 



f" Incisor 6. 

 superior 20. < Canine 2. 



Dental formula.— Teeth 42 J i ^^""^'^ ^5' 



] r Incisor 6. 



\^ inferior 22. < Canine 2. 



C Molar 14. 



( 



Incisors placed in a regular series, trilobate, 

 when they have not been used ; canines conical, 

 ?harp, and smooth ; superior molars to the num- 



