OKDER V. THE CAllXIVOEA. 187 



The natural history of the Amphibious Carnivora is extremely interesting. 

 The remarkable intelligence, curious and mysterious habits, capability of 

 attachment, extraordinary aflcctiun for tlieir young, and monstrous size of 

 many of tliese creatures, elicit nur admiration and excite our wonder. Not- 

 withstanding their awkward and unwieldy forms, tliey i'ar surpass most of 

 the land mammalians in moral and mental attributes, approaching, if not 

 quite equalling, tlie superior species of the canine race. 



Tiic later Ih'itisii naturalists have divided the am[iliibians into two fami- 

 lies, — the A^/i/ii/dixE, or otters, and the I'/iociiJcc, or seals, which we now 

 will proceed to describe, introducing, as we advance, such particulars regard- 

 ing tlie habits, and mental and moral characters of these animals, as we may 

 judge the most instructive and entertaining to the reader. 



Family 1. The Exhydr^e. — The Otters. In form and dentition, tlie 

 members of this group approach the Mustel kUr ; luit their feet arc distinctly 

 webbed ; the skull resembles that of the seal ; eyes, submarine ; movements 

 constrained on the land, but rapid and easy in the water, where they mostly 

 reside. 



Genus LuTRA. — Eivcr Otters. Musteline dentition, body very long, tail 

 also long, powerful, depressed, tapering, fur close, head depressed, eyes 

 large, plane, small ears, and an anal scent-bag, arc the most marked char- 

 acters of the genus. By the peculiar arrangement of the upper lip, which 

 covers the lower, and a layer of fat under the skiu, it approximates the seal. 



i. Lvptonyx. — Java Otter. This species resides in shoal water, dives 

 and swims with less power than others of the grouj), and consequently more 

 frequently seeks the land. The fur is brown and suit, with the lips, checks, 

 throat, and breast whitish. 



L. Cdpensis. — Cape Otter. This animal inhaljits the salt lagoons and 

 rivers of the cape, especially those that arc apt to dry, and leave only holes 

 of deep water. It has a soft, thick fur, chcstnut-ljrown, dec[)est on the 

 upper after parts; brownish-gray on the head, and below, white. 



L. YuJ^((ris. — The Common Otter. The color of this species is brown, 

 the head sometimes whitish ; it is from twenty-five to fortj'-two inches in 

 length, and weighs from twenty to forty pounds. On the land it runs with 

 difficulty, but swims and dives with great vigor ; lurks under sedgy banks, 

 beneath the roots of trees, and in holes, where the remains oi dead fish are 

 deposited, upon which it almost exclusively feeds. It is a great lover of 

 fish, although sometimes it makes incursions into the country, and devours 

 young lambs. The common otter inhal)its the whole of Europe, and 

 extends into Xorthern Asia, eastwards, to an imknown distance. 



L. lioennls. — The Irish Otter. This is considered a distinct species, 

 chiefly on account of its very dark fur, and residence in salt water. It 

 inhabits the coasts of Cornwall and Devon. 



