OEDER OF CAENIVOEA. 325 



Canina, or Dog tribe ; (5) tlie Fwerridce (from Viverra, a CiTet) ; 

 (6) and the Ursidce, or Bear. 



The Mtjstela Family. — This family consists in general of 

 animals of small size, with slender bodies, carried very near the 

 ground, and instincts of an eminently destructiYe character. The 

 name of Vermiform, which is given to many of them, such as 

 Otters, Polecats, and Martens, indicates their peculiar confor- 

 mation. They are either digitigrade or plantigrade, but more 

 often the former. They are characterised by the presence of 

 two tubercular teeth in each jaw. 



Included in this family are the genera Otter, Marten, Glutton, 

 "Weasel, Badger, and Ratel. 



The Otter Genus. — Otters are essentially organised for an 

 aquatic life. Their webbed feet, their slender shapes, and their 

 flattened heads, enable them to cleave the water with rapidity ; 

 while, on the contrary, they are awkward and slow on land. 

 They frequent the edges of lakes, rivers, and streams, where they 

 either dig oiit a burrow communicating with the water, or they 

 take up their abode in some natural crevice near the bank of the 

 stream they frequent. 



As they feed princiiDally on Fish, which they capture with 

 extraordinary adroitness, they cause incalculable havoc in the 

 waters which they frequent ; for they are not satisfied with 

 sufficient food to support life, but kill from the love of carnage. 



Otters will also eat small Mammals, Molluscs, aquatic Reptiles, 

 and even vegetables. In the early days of spring the female 

 gives birth to three or four little ones, which she tends with 

 the most active solicitude, sacrificing her Hfe, if necessary, in 

 their defence. If deprived of her offspring, it is said that she 

 bemoans their loss with sorrowful cries, sometimes even dying 

 of grief. 



This animal is naturally sagacious, and can be tamed. The 

 better to accomplish this end, it should be caught young, and 

 care must be taken not to feed it on animal matter, for without 

 this precaution its ferocious nature is apt to break out and cause 

 it to become untractable. When trained, the Otter wiU use its 

 talents in its master's behalf, and freely relinquish the prey 

 obtained by its exertions. 



