CARNARIA. 73 



low, but the superior tuberculous one is very large, and as long as it is 

 broad, and the inferior carnivorus has two tubercles on its internal side, 

 circumstances which ally it to the Badger just as the Polecat approximates 

 to the Grlson and Glutton. Independently of this, the anterior nails of 

 the Skunk, like those of the Badger, are long and fitted for digging; they 

 are moreover semi-plantigrade, and the resemblance extends even to the 

 distribution of their colours. The whole family are remarkable for their 

 fetid exhalations, but the Skunk is pre-eminently distinguished by its 

 most horrible and suffocating stench. 



Skunks are generally marked with white stripes on a black ground, but 

 the number of stripes appears to vary in the same species. The most 

 common species of North America is the 



M. puiorius. (The American Skunk.) Black, with stripes of white, 

 larger or smaller, and more or less numerous; the tail is black, and the tip 

 white. The odour it produces resembles that of the Polecat, mingled with 

 a strong smell of garlic — nothing is more nauseous. 



LuTKA, Storr. 



The Otters have three false molars in each jaw, a strong heel to the su- 

 perior carnivorus, a tuberculus on the inner side of the inferior one, and 

 a large tuberculous tooth above that is nearly as long as it is broad. The 

 head is compressed, and the tongue demi-asperate. They are otherwise 

 distinguished from all the preceding subgenera by palmated feet, and a 

 horizontally flattened tail, two characters which i-ender them aquatic. 

 Their food is fish. 



L. vulgaris. (The Common Otter.) Brown above, whitish round the 

 lips, on the cheeks and the whole inferior surface of the body. It is 

 sometimes found spotted and whitish. From the rivers of Europe. 



Several otters differ but little from the above. That of Carolina, L. 

 lataxiiia, Fr. Cuv., becomes a little larger, is sometimes more deeply co- 

 loured, and has a brownish tint beneath; very frequently, however, there 

 is no difference even in the shades of colour. 



Mustela lutra brasiliensis, Gm. (The American Otter.) Brown or fawn- 

 coloured; throat white or yellowish; a little larger than the European Ot- 

 ter; the body is also longer, and the hair shorter. It is distinguished by 

 the end of the nose, which is not naked as in most animals, but is covered 

 with hair like the rest of the chanfrin. From the rivers of both Americas. 



Mustela lutris, L. (The Sea-Otter.) Size, double that of the European 

 species; body much elongated; tall one-third the length of the body; the 

 hind feet very short. There is sometimes white about the head. It has 

 only four incisors below, but the molars are like those of the other Otters. 

 Its blackish velvet looking fur is extremely valuable to obtain which the 

 English and Russians hunt the animal throughout the northern parts of 

 the Pacific ocean. 

 K 



