LUTRA LEPTONYX. 
DIMENSIONS OF THE COMMON OTTER, 
From a Specimen preserved in the British Museum, 
Feet Inches Lines. 
Length of the body and head, from the extremity of the nose 
to the root of the tail, (English measure) 3 0 6 
the tail 18 6 
Circumference of the tail at the root 0 10 0 
Distance between the ears 0 4 9 
The American Otter measures from the nose to the root of the tail full three 
feet six inches, and the tail eighteen inches; the latter is four inches broad at the base. 
The Javanese Otter agrees in its manners with the Common Otter. It inhabits 
the banks of rivers, and lives on fishes. Its disposition, when found at large, is 
extremely ferocious ; if attacked, it defends itself with courage. It is with great 
difficulty taken in its adult state ; but if obtained young, it is mild and tractable : 
in tms state it is occasionally seen in* dwellings j but I never observed it to continue 
long in confinement. The natives distinguish two varieties of the Javanese Otter ; 
to one of which, the name of Wergul, to the other that of We lings a ng is 
applied : the former is of a gray colour, and is said to be solitary, while the latter 
lives gregariously ; but these statements require confirmation. 
The Otter is found near the sea, in all the large rivers, both along the northern 
and the southern coast of the island ; but, as far as I have observed, it does not 
establish itself in the interior. In the account given in the Batavia Society's Trans- 
actions, its voice is said to resemble that of a human being when weeping. It shews 
a great attachment to its young. 
