1839] Description of four new species of Olter. 319 



Akt. VI. — Summary description of four new species of Otter. By 

 B. H. Hodgson, Esq., Resident at Catmandu, Nepal. 



To the Editor of the Asiatic Journal. 

 Sir, 



One of the most remarkable features of the mammalogy of Nepal 

 is the great number of distinct species of Otter characterising it. 

 There are at least seven species, I believe, though not one of them 

 is numerous in individuals, at least not in comparison of the common 

 Otter of commerce, which is produced in the neighbourhood of 

 Dacca and Sylhet. This rarity of species, added to the circumstance 

 of the animals not being regularly hunted for their skins, renders it 

 very difficult to procure live specimens ; and without live specimens — 

 which may be slain and their osteological as well as other characters 

 thus accurately examined — the discrimination of specific differences 

 is a work of extreme labour and delay. Many years ago I announced 

 to Mr. Bennett, the late Secretary of the London Zoological Society, 

 the fact that there are several species of Lutra in Nepal, and before 

 he died he was nearly convinced of the correctness of the statement, 

 though I could not then, nor can now, give a full exposition of even 

 those with which I am best acquainted. 



Waiting, however, for the perfect knowledge when the materials 

 of it are not under command, is, I find, like waiting on the river's 

 side for a dry passage after the waters have flowed past ; and I shall 

 therefore offer no apology for briefly characterising those four of the 

 seven Nepalese species of Otter of which I have considerable certainty, 

 leaving the remaining three to some future occasion. 



Genus LUTRA. 

 1st. Species — Tarayensis nobis. 



Size, medial. Structure, typical. Scull and head much depressed, 

 Lower incisors ranged nearly in line. Tail equal to two-thirds the 

 length of the animal, and much depressed. Form, robust. Nails 

 compressed, exserted from the finger ends, and acute. Fur short and 

 smooth. Colour— above, clear umber ; below, and the hands and feet, 

 pure yellowish white ; the yellow tint deepest on the limbs ; the pale 

 colour on the head and neck extending upwards to the line of the ears 

 — less so on the body ; and the distinction of dark and pale hues very 

 decidedly marked. Tail above and below, dark. 



