Feb., 1912. Mammals of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 331 



Type locality — Eastern Canada. 



Distribution — Nearly the whole of North America, Virginia, Illinois, 



Missouri and Texas, north to Labrador and Hudson Bay and in the 



Northwest to the Arctic Circle; replaced in the Southern states, 



Florida and the Pacific Coast by closely allied forms. 

 Description — General color rich dark brown; the under parts lighter 



brown than the back, and the legs and feet somewhat darker; throat 



grayish brown, shading into grayish white on the lips and chin; 



toes webbed. 

 Measurements — Total length, about 37 to 41 in. (940 to 1040 mm.); 



tail vertebrae, 12 to 13 in. (304 to 330 mm.); hind foot, about 4 in. 



(101.6 mm.). 



Otters were formerly numerous in localities where there was water 

 throughout Illinois and Wisconsin, but at the present time their range 

 is probably restricted to the greater portion of Wisconsin and extreme 

 southern Illinois. It is not unlikely, however, that stragglers may 

 still be found in other parts of Illinois, as Hahn states that specimens are 

 occasionally taken in northern Indiana (/. c, 1907, p. 463). I am 

 informed by hunters that Otters are still to be found in Alexander and 

 Union counties, and Wood states that during the winter of 1907-8 

 several were taken in the cypress swamps of Alexander County (/. c, 

 p. 581). Otters from southern Illinois will probably be found to 

 approach L. c. lataxina, a slightly different southern race, but for lack 

 of specimens from that locality I am unable to decide this question. 



In Wisconsin it is not uncommon in the northern portion of the state, 

 but rare in the southern. Jackson says "There was an Otter slide on 

 the banks of Lake Koshkonong during the summer of 1901, " and records 

 specimens from Bayfield and Oneida counties (/. c, 1908, p. 27). I 

 have examined specimens from Walworth, Arena, Bayfield, Forest, 

 Douglas and Langlade counties, and Dr. H. V. Ogden has a skull in his 

 collection from Waterford, Racine Co. Jackson records specimens of two 

 males killed February 12, 1908, near Crandon, Forest Co., and says 

 they are reported as quite common in the vicinity of Black Oak Lake 

 and Lake Mamie during the winter of 1908-9 (/. c, 19 10, p. 89). 



The Otter is a semi-aquatic animal and is very seldom found away 

 from water, although it is a great traveler and will often go overland 

 for a considerable distance from one stream to another. Its food 

 consists largely of fish which it catches under water with great dexterity. 

 Merriam says: "It can remain under water almost as long as a Loon, 

 and I have known one to swim nearly a quarter of a mile without show- 

 ing its head above the surface. Its food consists chiefly of various 

 species of fish, and the lobster-like fresh water Decapod, called the 



