LESSER OTTER. 
variety of the Common Otter, and not a dif- 
ferent species. This, indeed, seems to have 
also been done by Ray; who says, that Ot- 
ters are to be met with in most parts of the 
world ; and rather differ in size and colour 
from each other, than in habitudes or con- 
formation.'' BufFon, however, in his Supple- 
ment, figures and describes, under the name of 
the Sm.all Fresh- Water Otter of Cayenne, an 
animal of very near affinity, if not of the same 
species, with the Lesser Otter. We incline to 
consider it as merely a local variety ; and are 
of opinion that, if an idea of our Lesser Otter 
had at the moment suggested itself to BufFon, 
the evident similitude would not: have escaped 
his observation. As he has given an excellent 
figure of this Small Otter of Cayenne, we 
shall hereafter adopt it, together w^ith the 
description by which it is accompanied. 
