1B? CATALOGUE OF THE MAMMALIA OF 
single night, along the course of a river, usually from ten to 
fifteen miles, and seldom less than eight or nine. His manner 
of proceeding on these excursions is as follows; after leaving 
his couch he usually swims until a bend in the river occurs, 
when he leaves the water and cuts across the land to the next 
bend; he then enters the water which he keeps until another 
short cut across the land brings him to a second bend in the river. 
Thus he proceeds alternately upon dry land and in the water 
until he reaches the termination of his beat, when he enters a 
previously prepared hold, or returns in a similar manner to the 
one he left. 
“There is considerable disparity in size between the male and 
female of this animal; the former, when full grown, usually 
measuring from 3 feet 8 inches to 3 feet 10 inches from the tip 
of the nose to the end of the tail, and averaging in weight from 
24 lbs. to 25 lbs., while the latter does not generally weigh more 
than 17 lbs. or 18 lbs. I believe the Bishop Auckland pack once 
killed a giant of 32 lbs. weight; but this “‘ Saul among the 
people” must be regarded as a very extraordinary specimen, and 
far beyond the usual size. 
‘“¢ As compared with the other weasels, the otter is thicker and 
stronger in the body, shorter and stouter in the limbs, flatter in 
the head, and shorter and rounder in the muzzle, with the eyes 
placed more upon the upper surface of the head, and nearer to 
the nose; while the feet are large, round, and webbed between 
the toes, the number of which is five. The print of the foot of 
a full grown dog otter is quite as iarge as that of a medium 
sized dog, from which it may be easily distinguished by a 
practised eye, by being much more circular in shape, with the 
toes more widely spread, their pads more deeply indented and 
ball-like in form, and the claws shorter and directed more per- 
pendicularly downwards; while the print of the dog is com- 
pressed towards the point of the toes, and altogether of a more 
triangular form with the claws pointing horizontally forwards. 
After seeing the prints of the two animals side by side and 
comparing their peculiarities with each other the difference will 
be manifest; but few, who have not had the opportunity of doing 
