1870.] MR. R. SWINHOE ON THE MAMMALS OF HAINAN. 229 
10. Tur Craw.ess Orrer. donyzx leptonyx (Horsf.). A. hors- 
fieldi, Gray, Mag. Nat. Hist. i. p. 580 (1837). 
I heard of a second species of Otter in Hainan that lived among 
the mountains. The Gazetteer speaks of it thus :—‘ There is a race 
produced by the mating of the common Otter with the female Yuen 
(Hylobates), called the Cha-kia (Mountain-Otter). Their bones are 
found in caverns, and yield an antidote to the poison used on arrow- 
heads by the savage tribes. People wounded by arrows grind to 
powder a small quantity and apply it to the wound; the powder at 
once stops the effect of the poison.” [ procured three skins of this 
animal at the trading-station above referred to, and saw at once that 
it was quite distinct from the common Otter. 
Two of the skins are of adults, the third of an animal about two- 
thirds grown. 
There appear to be two groups of Otters with minute pointless 
claws classed under the genus donyz, the one to be distinguished from 
the other by longer and more fully webbed toes. ‘To the former of 
these belong Luéra leptonyz, Horsf., from Java, and donyzx horsfieldi, 
Gray, from Malacca; which two Dr. J. E. Gray subsequently united 
as Aonyw leptonyx (P. Z.8.1865, p. 130). To the latter belong the 
Lutra indigitata, Hodgs., from Nepaul, and certain specimens in the 
Museum trom Madras. 
My Hainan skins agree in the form of the foot and in the texture 
of the fur with the fine specimen from Wellesley (Malacca) on 
which Dr. Gray founded his Aonyzx horsfieldi; but the tail in the 
Hainan race is much longer, and it wants the pure white throat of 
the other, and differs also in the tone of its brown colouring. The 
skull of the Malacca specimen is in the skin. The Hainan race 
appears to me to be distinct from this, apparently, its nearest ally ; 
but it is impossible to establish a species of Otter without a com- 
parison of skulls, and I have none of the Hainan kind. I will there- 
fore content myself with giving a description of the appearance of 
the skins. 
Adult. General colour rich brown, except the throat, underneck, 
and breast, which are whitish, the down of the latter parts being 
light brown. Hairs shorter and the down more abundant than in 
Lutra chinensis. Down of the upper parts the same rich brown on 
surface as the hairs, whitish at base. Ears small and oval, the same 
colour in front and behind as the back, with a pale outer edge. 
Muzzle and cheek-whiskers stiff and brown. Length from muzzle 
to root of tail 20 inches; length of tail 13 inches; from ear to eye 
2 inches, from eye to nostril 1°25. ‘The hind feet alone are te- 
maining ; their claws are without points, and truncated, the toes are 
well webbed, and there is a broad hollow space between the sole- 
pads and the ends of the toes. Sole-pad to tip of fourth toe -9; 
length of sole 1-9, greatest breadth °75. 
The young animal is softer and washed with buff throughout. 
Its ears have no light edging; and its throat, underneck, and breast 
are light brownish chestnut. Its whiskers are blacker. 
From ZL. chinensis the Hainan Aonyzr differs in the texture and 
