GROUP OF THE OTTERS. 



229 



Mustelida belonging to Patagonia, the Lynx- 

 tooth (Lyncodtm patagonicus). fig. 122, which 

 is remarkable for the extraordinary diminution 

 in the number of its teeth, of which there are 

 no more than 28. The sharp incisors have 

 the normal number, six in each jaw, the can- 

 ines are strong, scarcely curved, very long 

 and very sharp; but in both jaws there are 

 only two premolars. In the upper jaw the 

 second premolar is a very sharp carnassial 

 with a narrow heel, and this is followed by a 

 small transversely placed molar which is not 

 at all tubercled, and may almost be said to be 

 sharp. In the lower jaw there are two pointed 

 premolars and a molar, which is a five-pointed 

 carnassial. The tubercled tooth is altogether 

 wanting. The dentition accordingly has two 

 molars less than in the cat tribe, the same 

 number as in the lynxes, whence the name. 

 On a small scale this dentition somewhat re- 

 sembles that of the fossil Machairodus, and 

 presents a remarkable instance of the approxi- 

 mations that may be brought about between 

 two families through the reduction of the 

 number of the teeth. 



Till recently nothing was known of this 

 animal but the skull, which was described by 

 Gervais. Now the museum at Geneva pos- 

 sesses two stuffed specimens brought from 

 Patagonia, and from these our drawing was 

 made. Except for its dentition the animal is 

 a true weasel, somewhat larger than the stoat. 

 The body is about twelve inches in length, 

 the tail scarcely four inches. The fur is 

 rough, coarse, formed of long, thinly scattered 

 bristly hairs, which on the back are of a bright 

 brownish-red, but on the sides and tail have 

 whitish points. The upper part of the head 

 is of a dirty yellowish-white colour, and this 

 colour is continued backwards across the ears 

 on two tufts composed of long hairs lying on 

 the sides of the neck, each tuft running to a 

 point. The nape and upper part of the neck, 

 as well as the throat and paws, have a rather 

 dark brown colour. The tail is clothed with 

 very long hair, ending in a tuft. The head 



is short, the muzzle blunt, the ears very 

 small, rounded, and broad, the feet five-toed, 

 those of the hind-legs touching the ground 

 with the entire sole in walking, those of the 

 fore-legs only with half the sole, the toes 

 bearing short sharp claws. Nothing is known 

 of the habits of life of the animal. Judg- 



Fig. 122. The Lynx-tooth [Lyncodon patagonicus}, 



ing from its dentition it must be purely 

 carnivorous. 



GROUP OF THE OTTERS 



(LUTRIDA). 



Aquatic Mustelida with long, but stout, cylindrical body, 

 short webbed feet, and flattened tail. 



Our European Otter (Lutra vulgaris), fig. 

 123, may serve as the type of a considerable 

 number of species which are distributed 

 throughout all lands inhabited by Carnivora, 

 and for the most part frequent fresh water. 

 Founding on very insignificant points of dis- 

 tinction, naturalists have allotted these species 

 to a pretty large number of sub-genera. 



