310 NORTH AMERICAN MUSTELID.E, 



Two lately introduced uames require special notice : these 

 are Lutra caVifornica Baird {nee Gray) and Lutra destructor 

 Barnston. Tlie specimen which Prof. Baird referred incor- 

 rectly to i. caUfornica of Gjay, taken by Dr. Xewberry in the 

 Cascade Mountains of Oregon, is now before me. The palms 

 and soles are rather less hairy than is usual in L. canadensis; 

 still they are decidedly furred between the digits of both feet ; 

 the soles show the curious callosities diagnostic of L. canaden- 

 sis^ and the characteristic large nasal pad of L. canadensis is 

 well exhibited. Other Otters from the same region show as 

 fully furred feet as any from the Eastern States, and the pecu- 

 liarities of the one from the Cascade Mountains can only be 

 regarded as those of an individual, within the normal range 

 of variation of i^. canadensis, to which it must unquestionably 

 be referred. Prof. Baird indeed separated it with much evi- 

 dent hesitation, and mainly because it was supposed (though 

 erroneously) to represent a species already instituted by an- 

 other author {cf. op. cit. p. 188). The true caJifornica of Gray 

 is elsewhere discussed. 



The Lutra destructor is represented in the National Museum 

 by specimens received from Mr. Barnston as typical examples of 

 his supposed species. They are rather smaller than usual, and 

 perhaps not full-grown, even though already in breeding condi- 

 tion ; but they possess all the essential specific characters of 

 L. canadensis, to which I have not the slightest hesitation in 

 referring them. L. canadensis is so strongly marked a species 

 in certain respect^ already fully detailed, that there is no diffi- 

 culty in recognizing it, notwithstanding its great variability in 

 non-essential particulars. The skin and skull of L. destmctor 

 exhibit nothing beyond the normal range of variation of L. 

 canadensis. 



Geographical distribution . 



The Otter is generally distributed over North America, ap- 

 parently nowhere in great abundance, yet absolutely wanting in 

 few, if any, localities adapted to its habits. Being a shy and 

 rather solitary animal, it is among those that decrease rapidly in 

 numbers with the settling of a country ; but its very wildness, 

 together with its wariness and sagacity, stands between it and 

 total extirpation, even in populous districts; while the nature 

 of its haunts further conduces to its persistence. Writing 

 about twenty-five years ago, Mr. Audubon speaks of the Otter 

 as being no longer found abundantly in many parts of the- 



