OTTER. 135 



cusps, instead of being smoothed and mammillated, as well 

 as by the moderate development of the toes of the hind- 

 feet. Retaining the elongated bodily form and short limbs 

 characterising the more typical Mustelidce^ the true Otters 

 generally have the feet completely webbed, and either clawed 

 or clawless. The soles of the feet are for the most part 

 naked, although in the hinder pair the naked portion does 

 not extend backwards to the heel. The flattened head is 

 elongated and furnished with very small ears ; and the fur is 

 close, compact, and short, with a woolly under-fur ; the tail 

 being of medium length. There are generally four pairs of 

 pre-molar teeth in the upper, and three in the lower jaw ; the 

 first of the upper ones is, however, always very small, and 

 situated on the inner side of the canine, and in some species 

 may be wanting. 



All Otters have such a strong family resemblance, that the 

 distinction between the various species is in many cases a 

 matter of considerable difficulty ; but, fortunately, there is but 

 one, and that the typical, representative of the genus within 

 the limits of our area. With the exception of Australasia and 

 the extreme north, the genus is practically cosmopolitan; and its 

 representatives are mainly fluviatile and lacustrine in their habits. 



THE COMMON OTTER. LUTRA VULGARIS. 



Musfela lutra^ Linn., Syst. Nat. ed. 12, vol. i. p. dd (1766). 



Lutra vulgaris^ Erxleben, Syst. Regn. Animal, p. 448 (1777); 

 Bell, British Quadrupeds, 2nd ed. p. 167 (1874) ; Blan 

 ford. Mammals of British India, p. 182 (1888). 



Lutra nair, F. Cuvier, Diet. Sci. Nat. vol. xxvii. p. 247 

 (1823). 



Lutra indica^ Gray, Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. i. p. 580 (1837). 



{Plate XVL) 



