S36 THE COMMON OTTER. 



Their bodies are very long, and their legs short* 

 They barrow and form their dvvelHngs in the banks 

 of rivers and lakes, in the neighbourhood of the 

 situations in which they find their prey. 



They have, in each jaw, six sharpish cutting- 

 teeth ; the lower ones of which do not stand in an 

 even line with the rest, but two are placed some- 

 what within. The cy nine-teeth are rather longer 

 than the others. The animals of this tribe have all 

 webbed feet. 



THE COMMON OTTER *. 



The Common Otter is about two feet in length, 

 from the nose to the insertion of the tail ; and the 

 length of the tail is nearly sixteen inches. It is a na- 

 tive of almost every part of Europe, and is still to 

 be met with in some parts of England. Its legs 

 are short, but strong and muscular. The liead is 

 broad, oval, and flat on the upper part ; and the 

 body is long and round. The legs are so placed as 

 to be capable of being brought into a line with tlie 

 body, and of performing the office of lins. The 

 toes are connected by webs. The general co- 

 lour of these animals is a deep brown. 



They inhabit the banks of rivers ; and though 

 they sometimes sei?:c on the smaller quadrupeds and 

 on poultry, their principal food is fish. " The Otter 



* Synonyms. — Lutra Vulgaiis. Shciv. — IMustela I.ytra. Liii/?. — 



Greater Otter. Pca/i. — Loutre. BuJTon. S'iux/sGcn.Zoo/.n!. lOO* 



iJew. 2 uad. 451. 



