FAMILY CANID2E. 
41 
The Canadian Otter, as described by Richardson, appears to be a large variety, with a uni¬ 
formly colored fur above and beneath. The figure given by Griffith represents it with a white 
nose, chin and abdomen. I have carefully compared the skull of the southern species lataxina, 
with the New-York Otter, and can find no essential nor even trivial difference. If, then, as I 
apprehend, the species described by Richardson, and the lataxina, are identical with the one 
above described, this Otter is found from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the Gulf of 
Mexico to the shores of the Arctic sea. 
(EXTRA-LIMITAL) 
L. lataxina. (Fred. Cuv. Die. Sc. Nat. Vol. 27, p. 243.) Deep blackish brown, paler beneath; 
the long coarse hair uniform brown black; the fine down brownish above, greyish on sides of the 
head and under side of neck. Carolina, Kentucky. 
Genus Enhydra, Fleming. Embraces the Sea Otter, and characterized by having six incisors above, 
and but four beneath. Cheek teeth, }§ = 38. Body very long; legs and tail very short. 
E. lutris. Sea Otter. (Griff Cuv. Vol. 2, p. 316, fig.) Chesnut brown or black; twice the size of the 
common otter; fur exceedingly fine. Total length five feet; tail ten inches. North Pacific Coast. 
FAMILY VI. CANIDsE. 
Muzzle elongated, naked, glandular. Ears moderately large, and in most of the domesti¬ 
cated species pendent. Tongue smooth and soft. Tail for the most part bushy. Fore 
feet with five, and hind feet with four not retractile claws. Cheek teeth twelve above, and 
fourteen below. 
Obs. In this family, we propose to include the Dog, Fox and Wolf, which are extremely 
difficult to separate by positive characters. The former is known only in a domesticated 
state. 
GENUS CANIS. 
Tail recurved. Pupil of the eye circular. Vary indefinitely in form, size and color, the 
result of domestication. 
THE DOMESTIC DOG. 
Canis pamiliaris. 
Upwards of thirty varieties or races have been enumerated by systematic writers, nearly all 
of which have been introduced into this country. Of those peculiar to North America, we 
find, 
Var. a, borealis. (Esquimaux Dog.) Fur long, thick and woolly beneath; top of the head 
and back black ; nose, cheeks, belly and legs white ; ears short, erect. 
Fauna. 6 
