714 CLASS XVII. 



Sp. Pterura Sambachii, Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist. n. 1839, ^- J 4> 

 Demerara. 



Lutra (auctor., in stricter sense). Incisor teeth above and below 

 six. Tail moderate. Middle toes longer than outer. Ears placed 

 higher than eyes. 



Sp. Lutra vulgaris ERXL., Mustela Lutra L., BUFF. 1. 1. vii. PI. n, SCHREB. 

 Sdugth. PL 126; Cuv. R. Ani., e"d. ill, Mammif. PL 35, fig. 3; the otter 

 lives in Europe, the northern and temperate parts of Asia 1 , in Japan, on 

 the banks of rivers, and feeds on fish and frogs. In North America a very 

 similar species occurs, which is distinguished as Lutra canadensis SCHREB. 

 All the species of this genus much resemble each other, are usually simi- 

 larly coloured also, red-brown with white throat. 



DE LA LANDE discovered at the Cape of Good Hope a species which has 

 no claws on the fore feet (and at the adult period loses those of the hind 

 feet, except some vestiges of them) : Lutra in/unguix F. Cuv. LESSON has 

 formed from it the genus Aonyx. 



55 44 



Mustela L. (excl. of some species). Molar teeth -^ ^ or - - . 



6 6 55 



with three or two false teeth on each side above, four or three 

 below ; upper tuberculate tooth with crown broader than long. 

 Ears short, rounded. Toes separate. Tail of various length in 

 various species, mostly moderate. 



On the whole these animals are small and, with the exception of the 

 insectivorous animals (mole, shrew, &c.), the smallest of this order. Some 

 species are much sought for on account of their fur, and form a principal 

 article of the fur-trade. The skeleton has usually 14 pairs of ribs and 6 

 lumbar vertebrae. 



2 2 



a) With false molars . (Sub-genus Putorius Cuv. Dent. form. 



3 3 



Ow, i. J=| o.I=I, p. g m .I=! = 34 .) , 



Sp. Mustela putorius L. BUFF. vn. PL 23, SCHREB. Sdugth. Tab. 131, Cuv. 

 R. Ani., ed. ill., Mamm. PL 34, fig. i ; the pole-cat, le putois, der Iltiss, 

 de bonsem, i' 4" or i'5" long, tail 7"; brown, head whitish, legs and 

 tail black ; dispersed over a great part of Europe and temperate countries 

 of Asia. Mustela erminia L., BUFF. vn. PL 29, fig. 2, PL 31, fig. i, 

 SCHREB. Sdugth. Tab. 137 A, B; the ermine-weasel, smaller than the pre- 

 ceding species (female larger than male), in the summer red-brown, in 

 winter white, except the tip of the tail, which is black ; a much-prized fur. 

 Mustela vulgaris L., BUFF. vn. PL 29, fig. i ; the weasel, la belette; small- 



1 The species of Otter of Pondicherry appears not to differ; F. CUVIER has recorded 

 it under the name of Lutra nair, Diet, des Sc. not. XXVII. p. 247 ; fig. in GUERIN 

 Iconogr., Mammif. PL 15, fig. 3. 



