320 Description of four new species of Otter. [April, 



2d. Species — Monticolus nobis. 

 Size, large. Structure, upon the whole, similar to the above. 

 Tail equal to more than two- thirds of the animal, and less depressed. 

 Scull and head less depressed. Intermediate incisors of lower jaw 

 ranged entirely within or behind the line of the rest. Colour — above, 

 deeper than the above, or bistre brown ; below, sordid hoary, vaguely 

 defined, except on the edge of the lips and chin ; limbs nearly as 

 dark as the body. Fur longer and rough, or porrect from the skin 

 in a considerable degree. 



3d. Species — Indigitatus nobis. 

 General form and proportions of Leptonyx, to which it is affined. 

 Habit of body more vermiform than in the above. Tail but half the 

 length of the animal. Toes very short, and more than half buried 

 in the palmary mass. Nails short and worn, but not depressed nor 

 truncated, as in Leptonyx. Size, medial. Colour — same as in the 

 last, but deeper still, or dusky bistre ; paler and ruddier on the body 

 below, and albescent on the head below ; but the colours not well 

 defined, and only really distinct (except in shade) on the inferior 

 surface of the head. Character of the fur as in the last, and indeed 

 in all the mountain species. 



4th Species — Auro-brunneus nobis. 



Size, small. Habit of body still more vermiform. Tail less than 

 two-thirds of the length of the body. Toes and nails fully developed. 

 Fur longish and rough, as before. Colour — rich chesnut brown (the 

 fruit) above ; and golden red below and on the extremities. 



Remarks. — The three last species are confined to the mountains, as 

 is the first species to the plains at their foot. The dimensions in 

 inches, and the weight of the four species are as follow : — 



1 



Tip of snout to | oa , OQ 

 base of tail .} 26 to 28 



2 



30 to 32 





3 



22 to 24 



4 



20 to 22 



Tail ... 16 



20 





101 



12 to 13 



Weight . 16 to 20 lbs. 



20 to 24 





11 to 13 



9 to 11 



Nepal, May, 1839. 



I 



am, Sir, 



Your obedient servant, 



B. H. HODGSON. 



