90 ANIMALS IN 3IENAGERIES. 



and coarser hairs. In summer_, when the hair is very 

 short, it is almost black ; but, as the winter advances, it 

 turns to a beautiful reddish brown, except a spot under 

 the chin, which is grey. Otter fur is nearly of the same 

 fineness with beaver wool ; but being shorter, and not so 

 Well adapted for making felt, its price fluctuates more 

 with the fashion. 



The size is larger than that of the European otter; 

 the adult is generally about five feet long, of which the 

 tail occupies about eighteen inches : it is further dis- 

 tinguished from th^ 'common species, by the colour of 

 the belly being the saime as that of the back. 



The Brazilian Otter. 



Lutra Braziliensis, Ray. Mustela Braziliensis, Gmelin. Sars- 

 covienne de la Guyanne, Buffon. Brazilian Otter, Pennant. 



We know very little of this species, as regards its 

 general history; nor is it certain that the otter of Para- 

 guay, described by Azara, is the same as that found in 

 the rivers of Guiana.- Should this, however, be estab- 

 lished, it would appear to be an animal capable of much 

 docility, and worthy of being domesticated. Azara ob- 

 serves of one which was in confinement, that it ate fish, 

 meat, fruit, and bread very readily ; although the former, 

 from being its most natural food, was always preferred. 

 It was so very tame as to go about the streets, and re- 

 turn to its master's house of its own accord : it knew all 

 the members of the family, and followed them with the 

 attachment of a dog, although a very little exercise was 

 sufficient to fatigue it: it knew and acknowledged its 

 name, and seemed fond of playing with the cats and 

 dogs of the house ; but as it sometimes bit very hard in 

 these frolics, no one seemed very willing to join in 

 them. It was never known to attack the poultry, or do 

 any mischief, except to a very young pig, which it 

 would have killed, had it not been prevented. In other 

 respects, the native manners of this and the European 



