OBDER OF CARNIVORA. 
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Canina , or Dog tribe ; (5) tbe Viverridce (from Viverra , a Civet) ; 
(6) and tbe Ursidce , or Bear. 
The Mustela Family. — This family consists in general of 
animals of small size, with slender bodies, carried very near tbe 
ground, and instincts of an eminently destructive character. Tbe 
name of Vermiform , which is given to many of them, such as 
Otters, Polecats, and Martens, indicates their peculiar confor- 
mation. They are either digitigrade or plantigrade, but more 
often the former. They are characterised by the presence of 
two tubercular teeth in each jaw. 
Included in this family are the genera Otter, Marten, Glutton, 
Weasel, Badger, and Patel. 
The Otter Genus . — Otters are essentially organised for an 
aquatic life. Their webbed feet, their slender shapes, and their 
flattened heads, enable them to cleave the water with rapidity; 
while, on the contrary, they are awkward and slow on land. 
They frequent the edges of lakes, rivers, and streams, where they 
either dig out a burrow communicating with the water, or they 
take up their abode in some natural crevice near the bank of the 
stream they frequent. 
As they feed principally on Fish, which they capture with 
extraordinary adroitness, they cause incalculable havoc in the 
waters which they frequent ; for they are not satisfied with 
sufficient food to support life, but kill from the love of carnage. 
Otters will also eat small Mammals, Molluscs, aquatic Beptiles, 
and even vegetables. In the early days of spring the female 
gives birth to three or four little ones, which she tends with 
the most active solicitude, sacrificing her life, if necessary, in 
their defence. If deprived of her offspring, it is said that she 
bemoans their loss with sorrowful cries, sometimes even dying 
of grief. 
This animal is naturally sagacious, and can be tamed. The 
better to accomplish this end, it should be caught young, and 
care must be taken not to feed it on animal matter, for without 
this precaution its ferocious nature is apt to break out and cause 
it to become untractable. When trained, the Otter will use its 
talents in its master’s behalf, and freely relinquish the prey 
obtained by its exertions. 
