MUSTELIDsE 



569 



water, but when it has captured its prey it brings it to shore to 

 devour it. When lying upon the bank it holds the fish between its 

 fore-paws, commences at the head, and then eats gradually towards 

 the tail, which it is said always to leave. The female produces 

 three to five young ones at a time, in the month of March or April, 

 and brings them up in a nest formed of grass or other herbage, 

 usually placed in a hollow place in the bank of a river, or under 

 the shelter of the roots of some overhanging tree. The Common 

 Otter is found in localities suitable to its habits throughout Great 

 Britain and Ireland, though far less abundantly than formerly, for, 

 being very destructive to fish, and thus coming into keen competi- 

 tion with those who pursue the occupation of fishing either for 

 sport or for gain, it is rarely allowed to live in peace when once its 

 haunts are discovered. Otter-hunting with packs of hounds of a 

 special breed, and trained for the purpose, was formerly a common 

 pastime in the country. When hunted down and brought to bay 

 by the dogs, the Otter is finally despatched by long spears carried 

 for the purpose by the huntsmen. 



The Common Otter ranges throughout the greater part of 

 Europe and Asia, the Indian L. nair not being distinct. A closely 

 allied but larger species, L. canadensis, is extensively distributed 

 throughout North America, where it is systematically pursued by 

 professional trappers for the value of its fur. The Common Otter 

 is regularly trained by the natives of some parts of Bengal to assist 

 them in fishing, by driving the fish into the nets. In China Otters 

 are taught to catch fish, being let into the water for the purpose 

 attached to a long cord. 



Otters are widely distributed over the earth, and, as they are 

 much alike in size and coloration, their specific distinctions are 

 by no means well defined. 1 Besides those mentioned above, the 

 following may be noticed. In the Oriental region there are L. 

 ellioti 2 of India, L. sumatrana of the Malay countries, and L. cinerea 

 ranging over the greater part of the region. The latter species 

 (often known as L. leptonyx) is of small size, with a short head, and 

 rudimentary claws, which may be absent ; it was at one time 

 regarded as generically distinct, under the name of Aonyx. The 

 upper true molar (Fig. 261) is characterised by the great develop- 

 ment of its inner tubercular portion, and the first upper premolar 

 is absent. In the Ethiopian region there are two species, L. capensis 

 and L. maculicollis. Of the Neotropical forms it will suffice to 

 mention the small L. felina and the large L. bmsiliensis. The latter 

 is by far the largest of the existing forms, and is characterised by 

 the presence of a prominent flange-like ridge along each lateral 



1 See Thomas, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1889, p. 190. 



- The synonomy of this species is not settled, and the adoption of the name 

 given here only preliminary. 



