THE GREATER OTTER, 



Generic Characters. 

 Six cutting and two canine teeth in each jaw. 

 Five toes on each foot ; each toe connected by a flrong web. 



Synonims. 



Lutra, Gefner Quad. 687. Raii Syn. Quad. 187. 



Mustela Lutra, Linn. Syft. 66. 



Utter, Faun Suec. No. 12. 



Wydra, Rzaczinjki Polon. 221. 



Le Loutre, de Buff on ^ vii. 134. tab. xi. 



Otter, Brit. Z00L i. 67. 



THE Otter feems to conftitute the link of gradation, in the great chain 

 of nature, between terreftrial and aquatic animals ; relembling the former in 

 its fhape, and the latter in being able to live for a conliderable fpace of time 

 under water, and in being furnilhed with membranes, like fins, between the 

 toes, which enable it to fwim with fuch rapidity, that it can overtake fifties 

 in their own element. 



The general Ihape of the Otter fomewhat refembles that of an overgrown 

 Weafel, being, like that animal, long and llender. Its fkin is covered with 

 very foft hair, which is generally brown; but fubjedl to fome varieties in this 

 refpeel:, depending, perhaps, on climate. It is umally two feet in length, 

 from the tip of the nofe to the inlertion of the tail ; the head and nofe are 

 broad and flat ; the mouth fomewhat refembles that of a filh ; the eyes are 

 fmall and brilliant, and placed nearer the nofe than is ufual in the generality of 



