LUTRA. 211 



It is probable that these differences in the dimensions of the skulls extend also 

 to the other parts, and that there are two large, long- clawed Otters in Bengal 

 distinguished from each other by difference of size. The measurements, however, 

 which I have given of the mounted specimen of L, nair do not support this 

 suggestion, but mounted skins are not to be relied on as accurately indicating the 

 dimensions of animals. 



The type of L. simung, RafB.es, in the India Museum, London, is evidently 

 closely allied to, if not identical with, this species ; but, as its skull has been lost, it is 

 impossible to do more than conjecture, yet it is improbable that the Simung is 

 L. nair, and from the nature of the skull of L. chinensis, it does not appear to be 

 that species which is probably a distinct form allied to JO. nair. This Otter is 

 distinguished from Z. sumatrana (Plate XII, figs. 4 to 6) by the different configuration 

 of its skull, and by its hairless nose. I am disposed to consider that it wiU be found to 

 be the Simung of Eaffles and the Barang of P. Cuvier, and that it is one of those 

 members of the Malayan fauna which range north-westwards through Tenasserim, 

 Burma, Arracan, and Assam to the Himalaya, and that those individuals which have 

 been found in the streams of the plains of Bengal are merely occasional stragglers. 

 It is probable that it has a considerable westerly range in the Himalayas, but the 

 Otter of Kashmir^ is probably L. vulgaris, or a very nearly allied form. 



In Western Yunnan, I obtained numerous, perfect Otter skins belonging 

 to two distinct species, but unfortunately no skuUs. The larger of the two was 

 a species evidently closely allied to the Simung, and was procured at altitudes varying 

 from 2,000 to 4,000 feet. 



Sir W. Elliot,^ in his Catalogue of the Mammals inhabiting the Mahratta country, 

 distinguished only one species of Otter which he regarded as L. nair, but some years 

 afterwards he forwarded to the Calcutta Museum the skull of an Otter which he con- 

 sidered to be distinct from the L. nair of his Catalogue, a specimen of which he had 

 also presented to the same Museum. I have had the skull of this specimen removed, 

 and although it has only its milk teeth, it is yet of much greater size than specimens 

 of corresponding age belonging to L. nair. The general characters which distinguish 

 this young skull from the skuU of L. nair are those which separate L. nair from 

 the supposed Simung (,^== L. monticola) in adult Hfe, and the mature skull proves the 

 species to be very closely allied to the Otter the skull of which I have figured under 

 the name, L. monticola. It is perfectly distinct from the skull of the type of 

 L. nair, as it has the post-orbital swelling. It presents, however, certain characters 

 by which it differs from the supposed Simung (? = L. monticola), and chief among 

 these are its relatively smaller and shorter brain-case, the much greater forward 

 arching of the malar branch of the superior maxillary, its much shallower muzzle, 

 and the slightly more elongated character of the post-palatine prolongation ; and 

 these features are so well pronounced that I do not hesitate to regard it as a species 

 of Southern India Otter quite distinct from L. nair, but sub-specific to the supposed 



1 Hiigel : Reise im Kaschmir. 2 ^adr. Journ. Lit. and Science, vol. x. 1839, p. 100. 



