512 



and salmon in the Barrow are scarce, the Otters that frequent its banks 

 will attack and kill young lambs for food : — 



"Otter (Lutra vulgaris) belongs to the Family of the Mustelidse. There are at 

 least five well-ascertained species. In early spring the young are produced, generally 

 two, sometimes more; as many as five have been observed. The fur is of two kinds — 

 one thick, short, and soft, brown with white tips ; the other coarser in texture, much 

 longer, and darker in colour. 



" Pennant mentions one having been killed of 40 lbs., but 24 lbs. is a very large ex- 

 ample in this country.. It is quite true that they eat the head and shoulders of fish, 

 leaving the remainder, when fish are plentiful ; they are trained in Sweden, and still by 

 a few people in England ; they are trained very much in the same way as water dogs are. 

 The muscular system of Otters is very largely developed. Its Irish name is Madia eske, 

 meaning water dog. Lutra vulgaris must not be confounded with the great Sea Otter, 

 Enhydra marina, which is a much larger animal, and the skin of which is so much 

 valued by furriers. Pallas says he has known one skin to fetch upwards of £20. In 

 Kamtschatka they are called Kalan : they are still numerous on the west coast of Ame- 

 rica, as far south as California. 



" It is found in Vancouver's Island, which island is rich in Otters, producing three 

 kinds — Enhydra marina, the Vison (Putorius vison), and our friend, called there the 

 Land Otter, as distinguished from Enhydra. The skin of the latter, even at present, in 

 Vancouver's Island, sometimes reaches six feet in length, and is sent to England to be 

 dressed, and fetches from £12 to £15. The chief market is in China, where they bring 

 100 dollars (American). 



" I have known an Otter to kill waterfowl, and I believe they sometimes kill lambs. 

 Female goes with young nine weeks. Mr. Ogilby, so long Secretary to the London Zoolo- 

 gical Society, is of opinion that our Irish Otter is a distinct species from the English ; 

 but I do not believe he has ever had an opportunity of verifying this opinion by examin- 

 ing and comparing their skeletons ; he judged chiefly from differences in their habits. 



" R. M." 



A. — Muscles of the Kind Limb. 





Oz. Av. 





Oz. Av. 





0-30 



13. Glutaeus minimus, . . 



0-08 



2. Psoadiliacus, .... 



0*25 







3. Pectinasus, .... 



0-07 



14. Biceps femoris, . . . 



0-51 



4. Adductor brevis, . . 



0-10 



15. Bicipiti accessorius, 



005 



5. Adductor magnus, . . 



0-43 



16. Semimembranosus, . . 



0-49 



6. Obturator externus, 



0-07 



17. Semitendinosus, . . . 



0-24 



7. Adductor longus, . . 



0-50 





0-23 



8. Quadratus femoris, . 



0-03 



19. Quadriceps extensor fe- 





9. Obturator internuset gem. 0*04 





1-11 



10. Agitator caudce, . . . 



0-06 







11. Glutseus maximus et 





20. Gastrocnemius, . . . 



0 61 



Tensor vaginae femoris, 0 - 32 





0-25 



12. Gluteus medius et Py- 





22. Solssus, 



o-oi 



riformis, .... 



0-40 



23. Poplitaeus, . . . . 



0-06 



24. Plexor digitortim longus 







0-05 



Inserted into the common junction of the tendons of flexor hallucis 

 longus and accessorius. The tendons of this muscle are distributed chiefly 

 to the hallux and index. 



