186 AlUSTELID^. 



Molar teeth large ; tlie inner lobe of the upper sectorial very- 

 large, more than lialf tlie breadth of the tooth, and exceeding two 

 thirds the length. The length of the upper sectorial along the 

 outer edge exceeds the breadth of the six upper incisors taken 

 together. 



Colour. Very uniform hair-brown above, with a slight greyish 

 tinge, and without any trace of gri/zled appearance. ISonie speci- 

 mens are more rufous. Uuderfur pale brown. Lower parts 

 lighter brown ; the breast, throat, chin, and sides of head and neck 

 whitish or white. In some specimens, probably old, the tips of the 

 hair on the abdomen are white. 



Dimensions. Eather less than those of L. vuhjaris. A large skull, 

 probably male, measures 4*7 inches in basal length, 3*2 in breadth, 

 and 1'8 in height from between the bulla). A female skull is 4-3G 

 inches long, 2*0 broad, and 1*7 high, similarly measured. I 

 learu from Mr. Scully thdt this otter is shorter than L. vuhjat-is, 

 though more robustly built, with a much larger skidl. JSo 

 trustworthy measurements are available. 



Distribution. Apparently throughout India, from the Lower 

 Himalayas. Common in the Indus, in Sind, also in Lower Bengal, 

 Burma, and the Malay Peninsula. 



>S)jnonj/mij. This is, I tliink, probably the L. monficola of Hodgson, 

 and there are several specimens in his collections; but as the 

 species is not a hill-otter the name is misleading, and must be 

 abandoned. L. simiuuj of Ilorsfield is founded on a skin without a 

 skull from Sumatra, and, though probably referable to this species, 

 the identification is uncertain. I consequently, at Mr. Scully's 

 suggestion, adopt the name L. ellioti. 



Habits. Probably very similar to those of L. vulgaris. Whether 

 this is the species kept tame by the Mohanas of Sind and employed 

 by them in tishing, and in capturing porpoises as described by Hume 

 (' Stray Feathers,' i, p. 110), I am doubtful ; the tame otter appeared 

 to Hume, as it subsequently did to me, a small kind. There can, 

 however, be little doubt that this is one of the species kept tame 

 and used for fishing by the Malays, as mentioned by Cantor. 



94. Lutra aureobrunnea. The Ilimalaijan Otter. - 



Lutra aiirobrunnen, Ilochjsoii, J. A. S. B. viii, p. .'320 ; uinderson, An. 



Zuol.Rvs. p. 212. 

 ? Barangia nepalensis, Gray, P. Z. S. 1865, p. 124. 



" Habit of body still more vermiform (than in L. indiijitata = 

 leptonyx). Tail less than g of the body. Toes and nails fully 

 developed. Fur longish and rough. Colour rich chestnut-brown 

 above, golden red below and on the extremities. Length of head 

 and body 20 to 22 inches, tail 12 to 13 ; weight 9 to 1 i lbs." 



The above description is quoted from Hodgson. No other 

 naturalist has met with this otter ; but there is good evidence in 

 Hodgson's collections at the British Museum that at least one 



