182 MUSTELlDiE. 



forms are readily discrituinatetl by their skulls. Dr. Anderson has, 

 I think, succeeded iji clearing up much of the confusion in which 

 the Indian species had been left by Gray and others. 



St/n02)sis of Indian, Cii/Ionese, and Burmese Siwcles. 



A. Claws disthictand well developed on all toes. 



a. Head and body more than 2 I'eet long in 



adults. 

 a. Upper margin of naked uose annulate in 



uaddle ; dorsal fur g-enerally grizzled . . L. vidfjaris, p. 182. 

 h. Up()er niarghi of naked nose straight ; 



dor.sal fur not grizzled L. ellioti, p. ISo. 



b. Head and b;)dy 20-22 inches L. aureobnmnea, p. 186. 



B. Claws small and rudimentary; size small. . . , L. leptonyx, p. 187. 



92. Lutra vulgaris. The common Otter. 



Lutra vulgaris, Er.vlehen, Sijst. lieg. An. p. 448 (1777); Bhjfh, 



Cat. p. 7o: Jerdon, Mam. p. 88, jyartim ; Sctdli/, 1\ Z. S. 1881, 



p. 203. 

 Lutra nair, F. Cuv. Did. 8c. Nat. xxvii, p. 247 (1823) ; ElUut, Mailr. 



Jmini. L. S. X, p. 100 ; Blyth, Cat. p. 72, jnirtim ; Jerdon, Atam. 



p. SG, partial ; Anderson, An. Zool. Res. pp. 206 &c., pi. xi (skull) ; 



Kelaart, Prod. p. 3->. 

 Lutra indica, Grai/, C/atrlestcorth's Mag. N. II. i, p. .580 (1837). 

 ? Lutra taraiyensis, Hodgson, J. A. S. B. viii, p. 31'J (1839). 



Ud, Ud bildo, Fdni kutta, H. ; Sag-i-dh, V. ; Lad, Pdn-nianjar, Jal- 

 manjar, Jal-mdmis, Mahr. ; Nirunai, Tarn. ; Nira-Kuka, Tel. ; Nirnai, 

 Can., Mai. ; Dalioai bek, Wadari. 



The upper edge of the naked muzzle where the hairy part of the 

 nose begins is not straight, but projects in the middle and is con- 

 cave on each side, I'uniiing up considerably to the hinder edge of 

 the nostril on each side. 



Skull (fig. 48) much depressed and elongate, the length being 

 nearly double the breadth of the brain-case. The frontal region of the 

 skull behind the postoccipital processes narrows gradually for some 

 distance, then expands to form the brain-case. Teeth of moderate 

 size, the rounded inner lobe of the upper sectorial about two thirds 

 the length of the tooth ; length of upper sectorial along its outer 

 margin not exceeding the breadth of the six upper incisors taken 

 together. 



Colour. Above hair-brown, with a more or less rufous tinge ; 

 woolly underfur at the base white, then brown, the tips of the 

 longer hairs usually paler, producing in most Indian si)ecimens a 

 grizzled appearance, which is very characteristic. Lower parts 

 (including the base of tlie tail below, abdomen, breast, and inside 

 of limbs, throat, chin, and sides of bead and neck Indow the ears) 

 whitish ; fur of the chin and throat white throughout, of the other 

 parts white at the base, then light brown, and the tips white. 

 These white tips are much more distinct in old specimens, iu which 



