148 ON THE GENUS LUTRA. 



genus Lutra generally may not be uninteresting.* The mate- 

 rials within my reach do not allow me to enter into many parti- 

 culars ; but I can touch upon the names of six or seven species 

 mentioned by travellers as occurring in different quarters of the 

 globe. Following such information we find otters of different 

 kinds on the four great continents. 



First, we have the Lutra vulgaris of Great Britain and Europe ; 

 with what is considered a dark or black variety of the same on 

 the sea coasts. This is called L. Roensis by Ogilby, who deemed it 

 distinct, and who had it from the shores of Antrim in the north of 

 Ireland. 



India has its otter in the Lutra JVair, the Nir Nayie, 

 which in some parts of that country is domesticated, and rendered 

 very serviceable by being taught to drive fish, and even take 

 them in the water and bring them on shore for the fishermen. No 

 doubt the Nir Nayie brings the fish ashore for his own use ; but 

 the fisherman interferes, the rights of the biped coming before 

 those of the quadruped. The Juhl Margur of the Mahrattas is 

 perhaps only a variety of the Nir Nayie. It is a little larger, 

 and differs in wanting the white spot over the eyes, and in having 

 a white upper lip. It may be found however, upon a full anato- 

 mical comparison, that these two otters are of distinct species. 



The Javanese Sinning is a species of otter to which Horsfield, 

 so well known as an ornithologist, gave the name of Lutra 

 leptonyx, or fine-clawed otter. Opinions vary as to whether 

 this may not be similar to, or a variety of the otter to which I 

 have next to advert ; but the wide separation of the two countries 

 by ocean, and the almost total if not entire difference of their 

 mammals in other genera, would favor the opinion that their 

 otters are distinct also. 



The Lutra Capensis was constituted a genus by Lesson, under 

 the name Aonyx, as wanting claws, a peculiarity pertaining to 

 some specimens had from the Cape, but which has not been deter- 

 mined as in all instances constant. It would appear that such 



* Audubon gives a list of 11 species enumerated by authors, viz :— > 

 "Europe, 1 ; Island of Trinidad, 1 ; Guyana, 1 ; Brazil, 1; Kamschatka, 

 1 ; Para, 1 ; Malay, 1 ; Pondichiery, 1 ; The Cape of Good Hope, 1 ; and 

 North America, 2." Pennant seems to have considered the North Amer- 

 ican and Kamschatka Otter as the same, and the names Guyana, Trini- 

 dan, Brazil, appear merely local, not distinctive, in the absence of 

 specific characters, whieh I regret I cannot here obtain. 



