WEASEL FAMILY 



139 



Its chief food is rodents and other small ani- 

 mals — even insects and snails — while it is also 

 partial to birds' eggs and to bees nests with 

 their honey and larvae. 



Little seems to be known as to the breeding 

 habits of the Badger, but three or four young 

 is the usual number in a litter. In British North 

 America the period of hibernation lasts from 

 October till April, and the animals come forth 

 after their long; fast in good condition. 



■■ Badgers are valuable in destroying ground 

 squirrels, gophers and other burrowing animals, 

 as well as various kinds of insects,' says Dr. 

 A. K. Fisher. " They are extensive diggers, 

 and seem to have little trouble in securing their 

 victims. For their valuable service, fvill protec- 

 tion should be given them, especially in irriga- 

 tion sections where they sometimes dig into dikes 

 in pursuit of rodents which in the role of dike- 

 borers cause so much trouble." 



CANADA OTTER 

 Lutra canadensis {Schrcbcr) 



General Description. — Very large for one of the 

 Mtistclidac. Body long; legs short; toes webbed; soles 

 of feet hairy; tail long and rounded, thick at base and 

 tapering; head broad and flattened; nose short; general 

 color brownish; dense underfur. A very strongly 

 muscled, lithe and active animal. 



Dental Formula. — Incisors, ^^ ; Canines, jiir > 



=36. 



Premolars, — — ; Molars, - 

 3—3 2 



Pelage. — Sexes similar. Young very much like 

 adults. Seasonal variation slight. Color in general, 

 dark rich ochraceous brown becoming somewhat paler 

 and grayer below ; lips, cheeks, chin and throat pale 

 brownish gray to grayish-white. The long outer hairs 

 are hard and glossy; the underfur is dense, short and 

 soft. 



Measurements. — Sexes nearly equal. Length, 40 

 inches ; tail, 12'/2 inches ; hind foot. 4 inches. Weight, 

 20 pounds. 



Range. — Greater part of the United States and 

 Canada except on extreme southeastern and north- 

 western coast of the United States. 



Food. — Largely fish, with a few small mammals and 

 birds. 



Remarks. — Tlie Otter is one of the most aquatic of 

 the group to which he belongs, being exceeded in this 



respect only by the Sea Otter. The long well-muscled 

 body, the webbed feet and the long tail enable it to 

 pursue fish in their own medium. The Otters have been 

 separated into some seven species and subspecies known 

 north of the Rio Grande. The differences that separate 

 them are mainly in color, size and cranial characters. 



Related Species 



Canada Otter. — Lutra canadensis canadensis (Schre- 

 ber). Typical animal of the above description. North 

 .'\merica from Alaska to Hudson Bay and eastern 

 Canada, south to Washington, thence south to Texas, 

 and east to the Atlantic Coast, north of Florida. 



Southern Otter — Lutra canadensis lataxina (F. 

 Cuvier). Smaller. North Carolina to Louisiana, south 

 to Florida. 



Florida Otter. — Lutra canadensis vaga (Bangs). 

 Larger and redder. Florida. 



Sonoran Otter. — Lutra canadensis sonora (Rhoads). 

 Large and yellowish. Arizona, Colorado, Utah and 

 New Mexico. 



Pacific Otter. — Lutra canadensis pacifica (Rhoads). 

 Color paler. California north to British Columbia. 



Newfoundland Otter. — Lutra degener Bangs. Size 

 small. Newfoundland. 



Queen Charlotte Islands Otter.— Lutra pericly- 

 comae Elliot. Size large. Queen Charlotte Islands. 



The Otter is an aquatic aniinal which swims 

 and dives with great readiness, and with pecu- 

 liar ease and elegance of movements ; and 

 although its action on land is far from awkward 

 and difficult, yet it is certainly in the water that 

 the beautiful adaptation of its structure to its 

 habits is most strikingly exhibited. It swims in 

 nearly a horizontal position, and dives instan- 

 taneously after the fish that may glide beneath 

 it, or pursues it under water, changing its course 

 as the fish darts in various directions to escape 



from it, and, when the prey is secured, brings 

 it on shore to its retreat to feed. As the Otter 

 lives exclusively on fish, when it can procure 

 them, it frequents lakes, rivers, smaller streams, 

 ponds, and not unfrequently descends to the sea ; 

 and the havoc which it makes among the finny 

 inhabitants is almost incredible. In feeding, it 

 holds the fish between its fore-paws, eating first 

 the head. 



Otters are generally found either in pairs or 

 in family parties of five or six. Their homes 



