144 CARNIVORA. 



under the neck and belly ; the under fur is very thick ; 

 the tail is about a foot long ; while spots are sometimes 

 found in the under fur. In Norfolk the colour is 

 lighter. 



In France and Germany the Otters are more abundant 

 and larger than the English. In Scandinavia they are 

 of a fine dark brown colour, and much larger than the 

 ordinary continental Otter, and have a richer and 

 thicker fur ; they resemble the Halifax species in thick- 

 ness of fur, darkness of colour, and in the coarse pelt. 

 Otter fur is much esteemed. About 10,000 skins are 

 sold annually at the Easter Fair at Leipsic, and also a 

 good number at the Frankfurt Fair. Four thousand 

 one hundred and two Otters were killed in Prussia alone 

 in the winter of 1885-6. 



Kemains of the Otter have been found in the Swiss 

 lake- dwellings. 



The value of a Land Otter skin is from 5s. to 30s. 



In Scotland the skins are often used for making the 

 well-known sporrans. 



CHINA OTTER. 



Lutra felisa. 



The Chinese Otter is small, about 2 feet long ; the 

 neck is whitish ; the hair is of a light grey or grizzly 

 colour. 



The skins are beautifully dressed by the Chinese, but 

 the fur is of comparatively little value on account of its 

 poor quality ; it is sometimes imported in the pulled 

 state, i.e., with the top hair removed. The value of a 

 skin is about 3s. 6d. to 7s. 



