624 MR. R. SWINHOE ON CHINESE MAMMALS. [June 23, 
quarters light brown washed with golden. Body above and below 
light purplish brown, becoming nearly black on hind quarters, hind | 
legs, and tail. The fore legs are deep purplish brown, paler on the 
front; claws whitish. The brown of the head ends abruptly back- 
wards, with a transverse golden line edging it. Length from snout 
to root of tail 20 inches; tail 14°5, with 2 inches of hair beyond. 
Length of head 4°25; greatest breadth 2; breadth between ears 
1:75. Hind foot from tarsal joint 3°50; sole-pads small; claws 
short, deep, and well-curved. 
I only-procured the single specimen in Formosa, and have never 
heard of its occurrence in South China; but as the Indian animal is, 
according to Dr. Jerdon, very widely spread in Hindostan and its 
archipelago (Mamm. of Ind. p. 82), this Marten is likely enough 
to be found in suitable localities in China also. 
33. Musrexa siprrica (Pall.). (Red House-stoat.) 
Vison sibirica, Gray, P. Z. 8. 1865, p. 117; Swinhoe, Zoologist, 
1858, p. 6223. 
Lives in the walls of houses in most of the towns in China, and 
feeds on Rats and Snakes. I have seen them in Tientsin, Amoy, 
and Formosa, and have heard of them in most places that I have 
visited in China (see anted, p. 238). 
The following note was made on a fresh male specimen at Amoy, 
about two-thirds grown :— 
Length of head 3:2 inches, from its junction with neck to root of tail 
10°5 ; tail 9°75 (including 1-2 of hair at tip). Height of ear 1-25 ; 
depth of head near ears 1°75 ; breadth between ears 75, between 
eyes ‘7; greatest breadth of head 1°75, of nose 4, of eye “4; from 
rictus to tip of nose 1°2, to end of lower lip *75. 
Hair of a uniform light chestnut throughout, with paler under- 
fur, slightly tinged with grey. Chin and round nose white, with 
some white on the under neck. Face in front of eyes blackish 
brown, with a little brown on the crown. Moustache-hairs brown. 
Claws light brown colour. 
34. Lurra cHINENsIS. (Chinese Otter.) 
Iutra chinensis, Gray, Loudon’s Mag. Nat. Hist. 1836, p. 58 
P. Z.S. 1865, p. 126; Swinhoe, Zoologist, 1858, p. 6224; P. Z. 
1861, p. 390; 1864, p. 381. 
Found all over South China; frequents the sea-coasts as well as 
inland waters. On the 27th January, 1867, some fishermen brought 
me a fine male that had crept into their boat to steal the fish. It 
was dead, but still warm. I took down the following notes of its 
appearance :— 
From snout to root of tail 25 inches; tail 16°5, in girth at base 
6 inches, tapering to a point, with about 4 length of hair beyond 
tip, making a complete point. Ears small and rounded; breadth 
between them across head 3°25; length of head 5-25; breadth be- 
tween outer angles of eyes 13, between inner angles 2; eye in dia- 
0; 
S. 
