59 
hand, bearing the toes which, distended, form nearly a semi-circle about 
the palm; the toes are webbed to about the middle of the conspicuous 
digital bulbs; the hand is hairy above; the digital bulbs are bald below, 
but the webbing is more or less completely hairy, isolating the naked 
bulbs from each other, and from the palmar surface; the main palmar 
pad is naked, except a posterior scanty patch of hair, which may, by an 
isthmus, connect with the fur on the wrist ; the soles resemble the palms 
in the webbing—the shape is different; the fourth digit is much 
elongat :d, the third shorter, second and first rapidly graduated, and the 
fifth intermediate between the third and second; all the bald partso the 
palm and sole are tesselated with minute papille; on the back margin 
of the naked portion of the plantar pad, are three or four small, definite, 
elevated circular papille, peculiar to this species as far as known, and 
which Dr. Coues suggests may be the excretory pores of a glandular organ 
beneath the skin; the claws, back and front, are short, stout, arched, 
compressed, tapering to an acute point from a thick base; the front claws 
_ are larger, sharper, and more arched than the hind ones. The variations 
in stature are extraordinary; some are twice as large and heavy as 
others apparently as mature—sexually so, at least. An average length 
is four to four and one-half feet ; nose to root of tail, three feet; nose to 
eye, one and three-quarters to two inches ; nose to ear, three and one-half 
to four inches; ear less than an inch high, and about as broad ; fore foot, 
three and one-half inches; hind foot four inches; girth of body about one 
and one-half feet ; stature a foot or less; weight twenty to twenty-five 
pounds. The general color is a highly lustrous, rich, dark liver-brown, 
but little lighter on the belly. The longer hairs are stiff, and glistening 
when viewed with the lay of the hairs; this it is that gives the fur its 
beautiful lustre. The under-fur is a yellowish white at the base, and 
light liver-brown at the tip; the former color is in excess on the back, the 
latter on the sides and belly; the transition is imperceptible. There are 
no special markings anywhere ; the darkest part of the pelage is the top 
of the tail; the soles, palms, and nasal pad are dark. 
History of the Species—Systematic authors of the last century either 
confounded the present species with the Huropean L. vulgaris, or with 
South American species Until quite recently this species has been con- 
founded with the Brazilian Otter, by some French and even American 
authors. The specific characters already given are drawn by Dr. Coues, 
with special reference to antithesis with L. vulgaris. Mustela canadensis, 
of Turton (Systema Nature, 1806, p. 57, English version), has priority 
over Lutra canadensis, of Sabine (1823), usually quoted as authority for 
