ON THE GENUS LTJTRA. 157 



From that period I have always thought we had two species of otter. 

 I was informed at the same time that the Pinaihiwawlceeh did 

 not consort with the Neeheeh hut that the two were at enmity 

 with each other, and fought when they met. It can scarcely be 

 imagined that this very unamiable disposition, and the destructive 

 habit of destroying the beaver, with the fatigue necessarily atten- 

 dant upon such a pursuit, could be possessed by a mere variety 

 of the Neekeek or common otter, while the same inclinations 

 were not ascribed to every individual of the species. Neither can 

 it be supposed that the young and smaller individuals of a species 

 would follow an occupation requiring apparently a greater amount of 

 intelligence and skill, if not of strength, while the older and 

 stronger members of the same family left it off, or generally 

 declined it. This would be contrary to nature, as displayed in 

 the order of carnivorous animals. It may be also observed that 

 had the two animals been the same, the remark could never be 

 made by Indians that they were obnoxious to each other, and did 

 not commingle or associate together. 



Judging from the skull of the L. destructor, its greater compara- 

 tive fulness or roundness of outline, indicating a greater amount of 

 brain anteriorly, and a development of higher instincts, — any one 

 might infer it to be a creature endowed with more sagacity than 

 the common otter; and we find accordingly that, besides the usual 

 fishing occupations, it resorts to war upon the industrious and 

 harmless beaver, and brings into the field a degree of design, 

 contrivance, and perseverance, not belonging apparently to either 

 the Lutra Canadensis, or any other of the genus. Not to be 

 tedious, I shall only add, that the information of the Albany and 

 Weenusk Conjuror has been confirmed by many hunters on the 

 shore of Lake Superior, who never saw the Albany river, and who 

 never moved to any great distance from the great lake ; and also 

 by communications from a gentleman, who had similar statements 

 from Indians on the shores of Hudson's Bay. 



Agassiz says in his very useful work on classification " that 

 " Species in a natural genus should not present any structural 

 " differences, but only such as present the most special relations 

 '? of their representatives to the surrounding world, and to each 

 " other. Genera, in one word, are natural groups of a peculiar 

 " kind, and their special distinction rests upon the ultimate details 

 " of their structure." I believe there is exhibited in the skull of the 



