MAMMALS OF MINNESOTA. 129 



Lutra canadensis Guv. 



OTTER. 



(Plate XIX.) 



Lutra canadensis most earlier writers. 



Latax canadensis GRAY. 



Lutra hudsonica F. Cuv. 



Lutra lataxina F. Cuv. 



Lataxina mollis GRAY. 



Lutra calif ornica BAIRD. 



Coues gives the following diagnostic points: ''Orbits well 

 defined by prominent conical postorbital processes, the distance 

 between the tips of which is one-half or more of the intermas- 

 toid width of the skull. Inner depressed moiety of posterior 

 upper premolar as large and nearly as long as the main outer 

 moiety; general dentition strong, nose pad large." 



The otter is frequently over four feet in length, the tail 

 measuring about eighteen inches. The head is rounded and 

 short-muzzled, the eyes and ears being small, the former being 

 half way to the snout. The fur is very dense and glossy, the 

 under fur being close and abundant. The feet are almost com- 

 pletely webbed. The color is a dark rich brown with a pur- 

 plish cast, darkest on the back and root of the tail. The female 

 is similar to, but smaller than the male. 



The otter was distributed throughout the United States in 

 suitable locations though now becoming rare in all but remote 

 districts. A few individuals seem still to cling to their old 

 haunts in many places. In Mexico a slightly different species 

 or variety exists and in South America a still different form. 

 Although the otter is not rare in many parts of Minnesota, no 

 specimen has been encountered in the field explorations nor 

 yet authentic indications of its presence. I am again con- 

 strained to quote from Coues' Mustelidse, pp. 313-319. 



Habits of Otters. 



Although I have observed the "seal" of the Otter and its 

 curious "slides" in various parts of our country during the years 

 I have been a student of our animals, I cannot truly aver that 

 I have ever laid eyes upon a living individual; and to speak 

 of its habits, I must give information at second hand. Pre- 

 suming upon the reader's knowledge of the thoroughly aquatic 

 and highly piscivorous nature of the animal, I turn to the vari- 

 ous histories at our disposal in further elucidation of its habits 



