IGO BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



and flattened horizontally, with two glands at its base, secreting a fetid 

 liquid. 



Lutra Canadensis, (Sabine.) — Canada Ottee, American Otter. 



This species, once quite common in this State, is now nearly extermi- 

 nated, one in two or three years being about the greatest number captured. 

 It takes up its residence in the bank of a river or pond, and is careful to 

 have a passage leading to and beneath the water. It is an expert swim- 

 mer and diver, catching with ease the fishes, of which its food principally 

 consists, and of which it destroys great numbers. It is a very active, 

 strong animal, although rather clumsy on the land, its habits being almost 

 entirely aquatic. When attacked by a dog, it often proves more than a 

 match for him, its sharp, strong teeth inflicting an ugly bite, and its tough 

 skin and thick fur affording it protection from the attacks of its assailant. 

 It is a very cunning animal, trapping it being generally unsuccessful, 

 unless the trap is set beneath the water, at the mouth of its burrow, or 

 at the foot of its slides. A strange peculiarity this animal has, is its 

 habit of climbing to the top of a steep bank or snow drift, and sliding on 

 its belly head foremost to the bottom ; this operation is repeated some- 

 times forty or fifty times, and seems to afford it great amusement. If 

 caught young, it is easily tamed, feeding greedily on fishes, fresh water 

 clams and frogs. It breeds once a year, (in March, in this latitude,) and 

 has from one to three at a birth. I am informed that there has been 

 several seen this season in Marlborough, in this State, in what is called 

 " Ram's Horn Brook ;" its banks are miry, and difficult of access. A fine 

 specimen killed in Palmer, in this State, furnishes the following 



Description. — Head long, somewhat oval ; ears very short and rounded, 

 with hairs within and without ; nose blunt; body very long, slender, and 

 nearly cylindrical ; limbs very short and strong ; feet broad ; soles and 

 bottoms of toes naked ; toes webbed ; claws short and strong ; tail long 

 flattened horizontally, and tapering, slightly constricted at its base. 

 Length of head, 6 inches; width of head, 3^ inches; length of head 

 and body, 30 inches; length of tail, not including bail's at the tip, 15 

 inches, including the hairs, 16 inches; length of fore-foot, 2^ inches, hind 

 foot, o^ inches. 



Genus : 3fepMtis. — (Cuvier.) 

 Characteristics. — Head small, and pointed to the nose, which is naked, 

 and somewhat projecting ; ears short and rounded ; incisors, six in each 

 jaw ; canines, two in each jaw ; false molars, six in each jaw ; molars, 

 two in the upper and four in the lower jaw; body, rather slender than 

 robust, clothed with long, soft fur, and hair growing beyond; limbs short; 

 feet short, strong and fossorial; soles usually naked ; feet five-toed, each 

 toe provided with a long, sharp, crooked claw, those on the anterior feet 



