342 MAMMALIA: FERR, — LULL 
Fawmy CCI. MUSTELIDA. (Tue Weasers.) 
Carnivora either plantigrade or digitigrade, with the toes 5-5. 
Molars £4 (rarely }:}); the upper and the last lower one tuber 
cular; sectorial premolar without tubercles; no cecum. Most spe- 
civs provided with glands near the anus which secrete a fetid liquid. 
Some are strictly carnivorous, while others are rather omnivorous. 
Size usually median or small; the largest, the Sea Otter, being 4 feet 
long, the smallest weasels less than afoot. A/ustelidae are found in 
all parts of the earth excepting the Australian region. Some of 
the species are aquatic, and one, Latar luiris, the Sea Otter of the 
North Pacific, inhabits the sea, the young born in the kelp. In 
this family are many of the most valuable of furbearing animals. 
a. Skull with the cerebral portion swollen backwards and outwards, the snout 
short, high and truncate forwards; toes webbed; the feet adapted for 
swimming; teeth 36; aquatic. (Lwirine.). 2... Lutra, 597, 
aa, Skull with the cerebral portion posteriorly somewhat compressed, the 
snout produced, attenuate and transversely convex above; feet scarcely 
webbed; mostly non-aquatic. 
8, Auditory bulla little inflated, constricted; last upper molar above quad- 
rangular, very large, with an outer cutting ridge; claws non-retractile ; 
fore-claws lengthened, fossorial. (.Wephitine.) 
¢e. Teeth 34; tail long and bushy; anal secretion very strong-scented. 
a. Skull not depressed, its upper outline irregularly convex; large 
Shunk gs 4% 2 & % ee & * & | = © ADP, 58. 
dd. Skull depressed, its upper outline nearly straight; small skunks. 
SPILOGALE, 599, 
bd. Auditory bulla much inflated, not constricted. 
e. Last molar of upper jaw enlarged, sub-triangular; toes straight 
with long, non-retractile claws. (.Meline.) 
J. Body robust; tail very short; tecth 58... Taxmra, 600. 
ee. Last molar of upper jaw short, transverse; toes short, arched, the 
claws retractile. (Wusteline.) 
g. Feet sub-plantigrade; body stout; tail very full and bushy ; 
teeth 88. 6. 6 1 6 ee we ew we + GULO, 601. 
gg- Feet digitigrade; body slender. 
hk. Teeth 38; sectorial tooth with an internal tubercle. 
MusTEza, 602. 
hh. Teeth 34; sectorial tooth without internal tubercle. 
i. Pads of palm coalescent ; toes webbed, tail bushy. 
Lurtreo.a, 608, 
ii. Pads of palm distinct; toes not webbed; tail slender. 
Purorius, 604. 
597. LUTRA Linneus. (Lat., otter.) 
1128. I. canadensis (Schreber). AMERICAN Orter. Liver- 
brown. L. 45. T. 15. E. N. Am., aquatic. Valued for its 
fur. The Carolinian Otter, if distinguishable, is subspeo. lataxina 
(F. Cuvier). 
