186 MUSTELIDJS. 



Molar teeth large ; the inner lobe of the upper sectorial very 

 large, more than halt' the breadth of the tooth, and exceeding two 

 thirds the length. The length of the upper sectorial along the 

 outer edge exceeds the breadth of the six upper incisors taken 

 together. 



Colour. Very uniform hair-brown above, with a slight greyish 

 tinge, and without any trace of grizzled appearance. Some speci- 

 mens are more rufous. Underfur pale brown. Lower parts 

 lighter brown ; the breast, throat, chin, and sides of head and neck 

 whitish or white. In some specimens, probably old, the tips of the 

 hair on the abdomen are white. 



Dimensions. Eather less than those of L. vulyaris. A large skull, 

 probably male, measures 4*7 inches in basal length, 3*2 in breadth, 

 and 1'8 in height from between the bullae. A female skull is 4'36 

 inches long, 2'9 broad, and T7 high, similarly measured. I 

 learn from Mr. Scully that this otter is shorter than L. vulgaris, 

 though more robustly built, with a much larger skull. No 

 trustworthy measurements are available. 



Distribution. Apparently throughout India, from the Lower 

 Himalayas. Common in the Indus, in Sind, also in Lower Bengal, 

 Burma, and the Malay Peninsula. 



Synonymy. This is, I think, probably the L. monticola of Hodgson, 

 and there are several specimens in his collections; but as the 

 species is not a hill-otter the name is misleading, and must be 

 abandoned. L. simuny of Horsfield is founded on a skin without a 

 skull from Sumatra, and, though probably referable to this species, 

 the identification is uncertain. I consequently, at Mr. Scully's 

 suggestion, adopt the name L. ellioti. 



Habits. Probably very similar to those of L. vulgaris. "Whether 

 this is the species kept tame by theMohanas of Sind and employed 

 by them in fishing, and in capturing porpoises as described by Hume 

 (' Stray Feathers,' i, p. 11 0), I am doubtful ; the tame otter appeared 

 to Hume, as it subsequently did to me, a small kind. There can, 

 however, be little doubt that this is one of the species kept tame 

 and used for fishing by the Malays, as mentioned by Cantor. 



94. Lutra aureobrunnea. The Himalayan Otter. 



Lutra aurobrimnea, Hodgson, J. A. S. B, viii, p. 320 ; Anderson, An. 



Zool.Kes.p.212. 

 ? Barangia nepalensis, Gray, P. Z. S. 1865, p. 124. 



" Habit of body still more vermiform (than in L. indigitata = 

 leptonyx). Tail less than J of the body. Toes and nails fully 

 developed. Fur longish and rough. Colour rich chestnut-brown 

 above, golden red below and on the extremities. Length of head 

 and body 20 to 22 inches, tail 12 to 13; weight 9 to 11 Ibs." 



The above description is quoted from Hodgson. No other 

 naturalist has met with this otter ; but there is good evidence in 

 Hodgson's collections at the British Museum that at least one 



