COMPARISONS OF OTTERS. 301 



to be closely apposed to the succeeding molar, whereas in this 

 Mexican example there is a decided angular interval at the 

 same place. The point is difficult of expression on paper, but 

 is readily perceived when the specimens are laid together. 

 The whole skull is rather broad and massive. 



The same characters of skull and teeth are witnessed in a 

 large series of Otters' skulls before me from the coast of Alaska 

 and some of the adjacent islands. The skulls, unfortunately, 

 are unaccompanied by skins 5 but they lead me to suspect that 

 they may be those of an animal the same as the Mexican, 

 species. This would accord with the ascribed range of the 

 species (from Chili to Kamtschatka); but the point cannot be 

 determined until skins are examined from this region, as the 

 skulls alone do not furnish grounds for separation. The Mex- 

 ican animal is entirely distinct, as already noted, in the smaller 

 and differently shaped nose-pad, perfectly naked palms and 

 soles, and absence of the peculiar callosities seen on the latter 

 in L. canadensis. If the ascribed range of this Otter prove to 

 hold, we have, in Korth America, a second perfectly good 

 species, the characters and supposed synonymy of which are 

 presented in the accompanying foot-note.* 



*"Lutra felilia, Molina, Hist Xat. Chili." 



"Intra chilensis, Bennett, Proc. Zool. S. 11, 1832, p. \y—Tschudi, Fn. Peru. 1844-46, 119. 



"IjUtra plateiisis, Waterh. Zool. Voy. Beagle, 1. 22.— J)' Or&igr. Voy. Atn^r. M6iid." 



Intra califoruica, Gray, Mag. Xat. Hist. 1. 1835, 580, nee Baird. 



Nutria felina, Gray, P. 2. S. 1865, 128. 



Description (No. 9425, Mas. Smiths. Inst. $ , Jan. 15, 1869, Santa Efifjenia, 

 Tehuantepec, F. Sumichrast). — Of about the size and with much the general 

 appearance of L. canadensis. Tail very long, at least f the head and body. 

 Feet notably small. Nose-pad contracted, broader than deep, not deeper 

 than the length of nostril, the lower border lightly concave, the upper 

 border strongly doubly concave, with a central pointed projection upward, 

 and similar acute produced lateral upper corners. Soles and palms naked, 

 the palmar pad divided into a posterior circular part and a larger anterior 

 portion, the latter subdivided by several lines of impression. Soles without 

 peculiar circular callosities, with several well-marked subdivisions by lines 

 of impression. Color above a lighter and more chocolate-brown than in L. 

 canadensis ; below, decidedly paler and grayer brown than usual in L. cana- 

 densis, becoming dingy whitish anteriorly. Estimated length 2^ feet to root 

 of tail; tail about 1^ feet; nose to ear perhaps 3^ inches; fore foot, measured 

 from beginning of the naked part, only 21 inches ; hind foot about the same. 

 Additional specimens from the same locality, with others from Orizaba and 

 Central Guatemala, appear to be identical. A skin from Buenos Ayres is 

 not materially different, though the upper outline of the nose-pad is less de- 

 cidedly double-concave above; the size is less, the coloration lighter, and of 

 a peculiar yellowish-brown on the under parts; the whole pelage is remark- 

 ably harsh and hispid. 



