316 



V ERTEBRATA. 



in application to the African animal, and it baa Bince been applied by other writers in the same 



way. One of the American skunks retains it as its popular designation. 



LYNO 'I M '\ : Lyncodon of Gervais. — Of this there is a single species, found in Pata- 



L it i s between the polecat and ermine in size; its appearance and habits are but partially 



kimu n. 



I [ TRINS, OR OTTERS. 



< tfthis tribe, then' are Beveral genera and numerous species, all possessing the general form of 

 the mustclidae, with aquatic habits, and living on fish. The teeth are sharp and strong, the tuber- 

 cles f the molars being very pointed, a modification necessary to enable them to secure their 

 and Blipperj prej . 



OTTEKS. 



Genus OTTER: ZAitra. — Of this there are several species. The Common Otter of Europk, 

 /.. vulgaris, is the Loutre of the French, Lodra, Lodio, and Lontra of the Italians, Otter and 

 Fisch Otter of the Germans, Nutria and Lutra of the Spanish. The head and nose are broad and 

 flat; neck thick; body elongated; tail broad at the base, compressed horizontally, and tapering 

 to a point; the eyes, which are not largo, arc placed comparatively near to the nose; the ears 

 are very short, and the auditory opening rather narrow; the mouth is small, and the lips are ca- 

 pable of being firmly closed together; the whiskers are very long; the legs very short, strong 

 t, and muscular; the five-toed feet are furnished with strong, broad webs, like those of water 

 fowl which have these accessories best developed. Hence Somcrvillc terms the otter "go< 

 footed." The color is brown, deepest on the upper parts, with the exception of two small patch) 

 of white "ii the lips, one on each side of the nose. This species varies in size, being from t\* 

 feel two inch,-; to forty-two inches in length, including the tail, which is one fourth that of tie 

 body. The usual weighl of a male is from twenty to twenty-four pounds, though Pennant speak 

 of one weighing forty pounds. • 



lie' natural food of the common otter is fish, for the chase and capture of which its w 

 frame is beautifully adapted. Bovs silently is the water entered! The eyes are so placed, thi 

 whether the animal is swimming below its prey, behind it, above it, or on either side of it, tli 

 least motion of the head and neck, brings it within the sphere of the pursuer's vision. 1\ 

 whole frai work of the animal, its short fin-like legs, oary feet, and rudder of a tail, cnah 



