CAPE OTTER 39 



bread and milk, with an occasional small rat, mouse or 

 bird by way of a change. When in slow progression 

 over the ground, the Snake Weasel reminds one forcibly 

 of a caterpillar, the back being arched or humped up in 

 a similar manner to that affected by this insect. 



Genus LUTRA. 



Head rounded and ears small. Toes of hind feet 

 webbed ; soles of hind feet naked. Animals of aquatic 

 habit. Otters are found all over the world, except in 

 Australia. In Africa two species occur, both of which 

 are found in the southern half of the continent. 



Lutra capensis. Cape Otter. Kaapsche Otter. 



This is the larger of the two species, and is by far the 

 commoner. We have met with it in the Uitenhage, 

 Albany, Queenstown and Aliwal North divisions of Cape 

 Colony; at Brandfort, O.F.S. ; and at Modderfontein, 

 Irene and Pretoria, Transvaal. It measures from 30 to 

 36 inches in length, with the tail another 16 to 22 inches. 



It is of a dark brown colour, with the tip of the nose, 

 upper lip, cheeks, chin and throat white. There are no 

 claws on the fore feet, and only two small nails on the 

 hind feet. An example of this Otter lived in the Pretoria 

 Zoo for close upon three years, and was a tame and 

 intelligent creature, coming when he was called. He 

 slept in a box containing hay or grass, and was not very 

 regular in his habits, coming out to bathe at all hours 

 of the day and night. He devoured a large daily ration 

 of sea-fish, but accepted and ate with avidity an occasional 

 crab as a special dainty. 



