182 MUSTELID^E. 



forms are readily discriminated by their skulls. Dr. Anderson has, 

 I think, succeeded in clearing up much of the confusion in which 

 the Indian species had been left by Gray and others. 



Synopsif of Indian, Ceylonese, and Burmese Species. 



A. Claws distinct and well developed on all toes. 



a. Head and body more than 2 feet long in 



adults. 



a. Upper margin of naked nose angulate in 



middle ; dorsal fur generally grizzled . . L. vulyaris, p. 182. 



b. Upper margin of naked nose straight; 



dorsal fur not grizzled L. ellioti, p. 18o. 



b. Head and body 20-22 inches L. aureobrunnea, p. 186. 



B. Claws small and" rudimentary ; size small L. leptonyx, p. 187. 



92. Lutra vulgaris. The common Otter. 



Lutra vulgaris, Erxleben, Syst. Reg. An. p. 448 (1777); Blyth, 



Cat. p. 73 : Jerdon, Mam. p. 88, partitn ; Scully, P. Z. S. 1881, 



p. 203. 

 Lutra nair, F. Cuv. Diet. Sc. Nat. xxvii, p. 247 (1823) ; Elliot, Madr. 



Journ. L. 8. x, p. 100 ; Blyth, Cat. p. 72, partim ; Jerdon, Mam. 



p. 86,partim ; Anderson, An. Zool. Res. pp. 206 &c., pi. xi (skull) ; 



Kelaart, Prod. p. 3o. 



Lutra indica, Gray, Charlestcorth's Mag. N. H. i, p. 580 (1837). 

 ? Lutra taraiyensis, Hodgson, J. A. S. B. viii, p. 319 (1839). 



Ud, Ud bildo, Pdni kutta, H. ; Sag-i-db, P. ; Lad, Pdn-manjar, Jalr 

 manjar, Jal-mdnus, Mahr. : Nirunai, Tarn. ; Niru-Kuka, Tel. ; Nirnai, 

 Can., Mai. ; Dalwai bek, Wadari. 



The upper edge of the naked muzzle where the hairy part of the 

 nose begins is not straight, but projects in the middle and is con- 

 cave on each side, running up considerably to the hinder edge of 

 the nostril on each side. 



Skull (fig. 48) much depressed and elongate, the length being 

 nearly double the breadth of the brain-case. The frontal region of the 

 skull behind the postoccipital processes narrows gradually for some 

 distance, then expands to form the brain-case. Teeth of moderate 

 size, the rounded inner lobe of the upper sectorial about two thirds 

 the length of the tooth ; length of upper sectorial along its outer 

 margin not exceeding the breadth of the six upper incisors taken 

 together. 



Colour. Above hair-brown, with a more or less rufous tinge ; 

 woolly underfur at the base white, then brown, the tips of the 

 longer hairs usually paler, producing in most Indian specimens a 

 grizzled appearance, which is very characteristic. Lower parts 

 (including the base of the tail below, abdomen, breast, and inside 

 of limbs, throat, chin, and sides of bead and neck below the ears) 

 whitish ; fur of the chin and throat white throughout, of the other 

 parts white at the base, then light brown, and the tips white. 

 These white tips are much more distinct in old specimens, in which 



