128 . BULLETIN NO. VII. 



when she would dive into the water, be gone for a moment and 

 then reappear on the opposite side of the rock, usually with a 

 fish in her mouth, which she would deposit in the centre of the 

 stone, and its struggles instantly stop by a quick, sharp bite 

 back of the head, which caused immediate death. This process 

 was repeated without intermission, except to stop for an instant 

 to shake the water from her furry coat, until seven fish, vary- 

 ing from four to seven inches in length, were deposited upon 

 the rock. Then, without stopping to rest, taking one fish in 

 her mouth, she plunged into the stream and swam ashore, 

 climbed up the steep bank and ran hastily to her young, in a 

 burrow under an old stump on the bank of the stream, fifty 

 yards away. In a moment she was seen returning, plunged 

 into the stream and swam to the rock, took a second fish in her 

 mouth, entered the river once more, and returned to her young 

 as at first. This was repeated until all the fish had been carried 

 away. A few moments after having removed the last fish, she 

 returned and began her work once more. This time, however, 

 her labors were without result; so, shifting her position to an- 

 other rock in the stream a short distance away, she continued 

 her fishing. But, although more than a quarter of an hour was 

 spent in energetic effort, her labors were without avail, and 

 she was this time compelled to return to her young empty 

 handed." 



"From the bank of the stream, where egress from the water 

 was made, to the burrow, fifty yards distant, a well beaten path 

 had been formed by the mother mink in her daily excursions in 

 quest of food for her young." 



SUBFAMILY LUTRINJE. 



THE OTTERS. 



Several closely allied subgenera of aquatic Mustelidce con. 

 stitute this group, which is represented in most parts of the 

 earth, but in North America by but a single species. The 

 elongated body is supported on very short limbs. The neck is 

 not as long as in the weasels, and the tail is tapering and flat- 

 tened. The dentition is highly carnivorous, i. |, c. }, p m. |, 

 m. \ x 2=36. In the genus Lutra the skull is much depressed 

 and flattened on top, the dorsal outline being nearly straight. 

 The rostral portion is short. The palate extends beyond the 

 molars, anteorbital foramen very large. The pterygoids are 

 hamular. 



