568 CARNIVORA 
carnassial with a trenchant tricuspid blade, and a very large inner 
lobe, hollowed on the free surface, with a raised sharp edge, and extend- 
ing along two-thirds or more of the length of the blade. True 
molar large, with a quadri- 
cuspidate crown, broader 
than long. First upper 
premolar very small, and 
in some cases absent (Fig. 
261). Skull broad and 
depressed, contracted 1m- 
mediately behind the 
orbits. Facial portion 
very short; brain case 
large. Vertebree: C 7, 
D 14-15, L 6-5, 8 3,C 
Fic. 261.—Palate of Lutra cinerea. (From the 20-26. Body very long. 
Paleontologia Indica.) Fars: short and. rounded. 
Limbs short. Feet more or less completely webbed ; claws usually 
well developed on all the toes, although they may be rudimentary 
or absent. Trail long, thick at the base and tapering, rather 
depressed. Fur short and close. The humerus may or may not 
have an entepicondylar foramen. In conformity with the shape 
of the skull, the posterior part of the brain is expanded laterally. 
The Common British Otter (L. vulgaris), as the type of the 
genus, may be described somewhat fully. It has an elongated, low 
body, short limbs, short broad feet, with five toes on each, con- 
nected together by webs, and all with short, moderately strong, 
compressed, curved, pointed claws. Head rather small, broad, and 
flat; muzzle very broad ; whiskers thick and strong; eyes small 
and black ; ears short and rounded. Tail a little more than half 
the length of the body and head together, very broad and strong at 
the base, and gradually tapering to the end, somewhat flattened 
horizontally. The fur is of very fine quality, consisting of a short 
soft under fur of a whitish-gray colour, brown at the tips, inter- 
spersed with longer, stiffer, and thicker hairs, very shining, grayish 
at the base, bright rich brown at the points, especially on the upper 
parts and outer surface of the legs ; the throat, cheeks, under parts 
and inner surface of the legs brownish-gray throughout. Individual 
Otters vary much in size ; but the total length from the nose to the 
end of the tail averages about 34 feet, of which the tail occupies 
1 foot 3 or 4 inches. The weight of a full-sized male is from 18 to 
24 lbs., that of a female about 4 Ibs. less. 
As the Otter lives almost exclusively on fish, it is rarely met 
with far from water, and usually frequents the shores of brooks, 
rivers, lakes, and, in some localities, the sea itself. It is a most 
expert swimmer and diver, easily overtaking and seizing fish in the 
