84 



VERTEBRATES 



feet are provided with five toes each, which are naturally expanded, 

 and are connected by a membrane like the toes of a web-footed 

 fowl, and are all so equally distant, that there is no distinction of 

 any in the place of the great toe in other animals. The otter very 

 strikingly resembles the beaver in its head and face. The ears 

 are small j and, what is very singular and rarely to be seen, they 



Ottei. 



are placud back of the eyes, near the upper jaw, as in the beaver 

 The neck is short, and equal to the head in thickness ; the nose 

 and corners of the mouth are furnished with very long whiskers. 

 It is provided with thirty-six teeth ; above and below with six 

 cutting and two canine, and five grinders on each side in both 

 jaws. We can easily judge from the furniture of the mouth of 

 this animal, what are its habits, and its means of support and 

 mode of living. The hair of its body is short and of a chestnut 

 brown, but under the belly of a paler color. On each side of the 

 nose there are two small spots of white, and another under the 

 thin. The otter is amphibious, living both in water and on land 



