

CARNIVORA. 249 



They may be divided, according to Mr. J. E. Gray, 

 by the characters of the toes, and the nakedness of 

 the soles. This arrangement we transpose. 



A, Toes half webbed, first joints of middle, and 

 next outward finger, united ; claws obsolete. 



Sub-genus AONYX, Lesson. 



A. Horsfieldii, Gray. Lutra leptonyx, Horsf. 

 Java Otter. Head narrower, more lengthened ; the 

 neck shorter ; fore legs longer ; the entire habit 

 slender ; the tail likewise shorter and pointed. The 

 fur is brown and soft, with the lips, cheeks, throat, 

 and breast, whitish. This form evidently retains 

 terrestrial habits not in general belonging to the 

 group ; it must swim and dive with less power, and 

 reside in shoal waters. 



AonyxLalandii, Lesson. Lutra Capensis. Cape 

 Otter. Fur soft and thick, chestnut-brown, deepest 

 on the upper after parts; brownish- grey on the 

 head ; below white. Total length 4' 6" Resides 

 in the salt lagoons and rivers of the Cape, mostly 

 apt to dry, and leave only holes of deep water. 



B, Toes equal, separate, webbed ; claws acute. 



a, Mufle bald. 



* Soles of the hind feet bald to the heel. 



Sub-genus LUTRA, Lutra vulgaris. The Com- 

 mon Otter. Brown ; head sometimes coloured 

 whitish ; size from 25 to 42 inches total length, 

 and weight from 20 to 40 pounds. Runs on land 

 with difficulty, but swims and dives with great 

 vigour ; lurks under banks in sedgy and overgrown 

 watery places, beneath roots of trees, and in holes 



