128 BULLETIN NO. VII. 
when she would dive into the water, be gone for a moment and 
then reappear on the opposite side of the rock, usually with a 
fish in her mouth, which she would deposit in the centre of the 
stone, and its struggles instantly stop by a quick, sharp bite 
back of the head, which caused immediate death. This process 
was repeated without intermission, except to stop for an instant 
to shake the water from her furry coat, until seven fish, vary- 
ing from four to seven inches in length, were deposited upon 
the rock. Then, without stopping to rest, taking one fish in 
her mouth, she plunged into the stream and swam ashore, 
climbed up the steep bank and ran hastily to her young, in a: 
burrow under an old stump on the bank of the stream, fifty 
yards away. In a moment she was seen returning, plunged 
into the stream and swam to the rock, took a second fish in her 
mouth, entered the river once more, and returned to her young 
as at first. This was repeated until all the fish had been carried 
away. A few moments after having removed the last fish, she 
returned and began her work once more. This time, however, 
her labors were without result; so, shifting her position to an- 
other rock in the stream a short distance away, she continued 
her fishing. But, although more than a quarter of an hour was 
spent in energetic effort, her labors were without avail, and 
she was this time compelled to return to her young empty 
handed.” 
‘‘From the bank of the stream, where egress from the water 
was made, to the burrow, fifty yards distant, a well beaten path 
had been formed by the mother mink in her daily excursions in 
quest of food for her young.” 
SupramMity LUTRIN 4. 
THE OTTERS. 
Several closely allied subgenera of aquatic Mustelide con- 
stitute this group, which is represented in most parts of the 
earth, but in North America by but a single species. The 
elongated body is supported on very short limbs. The neck is 
not as long as in the weasels, and the tail is tapering and flat- 
tened. The dentition is highly carnivorous, i. %, ¢. +, pm. 4, 
m. +x 286: In the genus Lutra the skull is much depressed 
and flattened on top, the dorsal outline being nearly straight. 
The rostral portion is short. The palate extends beyond the 
molars, anteorbital foramen very large. The pterygoids are 
hamular. 
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