CARNIVORA. 201 



Gallc. Allamandi. Allamand's Orison. Is a 

 second species, according to Mr. Bell ; but the diffe- 

 rences above noted seem to point out mere varieties. 



Genus EIRA, wherein we intend to include a 

 small group of American Carnassiers, on one side 

 so nearly allied to the Orisons, and on the other to 

 Otters, that they might be referred to that genus, 

 having their lengthened form, and the white heads 

 and throats which are frequent in both genera, and 

 swimming with a facility which is only equalled by 

 their power of climbing trees. The name Eira is 

 itself a generical term, employed for these animals 

 by the Brazilian natives, and has led to considerable 

 uncertainty among Zoologists, because it is ndt 

 solely used for one species in the country, is not 

 spelt or pronounced alike by different tribes Taira, 

 Leira, Eyra, Era, being likewise used ; and those 

 who have noticed species, have, by inadvertence, or 

 by error in the press, used the name of Guinea as 

 the native country, whereas they should have written 

 Guiana. "We believe Mr. Pennant, as well as Brown, 

 fell into the mistake, and so late as 1826, when 

 Mr. Fred. Cuvier wrote his article Galera, we may 

 still see how much confusion there was remaining 

 on the subject. The dentition is as in the Orisons, 

 incis. , can. \-\, mol. f -f = 34, whereof in the up- 

 per jaw, 1 tubercular, 1 carnassial and 2 false molars 

 on each side ; below, 1 tubercular, 1 carnassial and 

 3 false molars. The toes are always five, armed 

 with strong claws, mostly white ; the fingers united 

 to the last phalanx by a membrane ; the hind legs 



