Mr. B. II. Hodgson on Four new Species of Otter. 27 X . ill other Carnivora there is always a slight trace of this process, but ill none does it inclose the condyles, as in most of the Mustelidce. Tlie genera contained in this family are Musiela^ Zorilla, Gatictis, Bell (which must not be confounded with the Galictis of Is. Geoffroy St. Hilaire, published in the ' Comptes Ilendus' for October 1837, p. 581.), Mellivora, Ursitaxus, Helictis and Gulo, in which the true molar of the upper jaw is transverse ; Lutra and Mephitis, in which this tooth approaches more or less to a square form ; Taxidea, in which it is triangular ; and lastly. Metes, Arclomjx and Mydaus, in which the true molar is longer than broad. This last-mentioned ge-nus evinces an approach to the order Insectivora. In the Ursidce there are two well-developed true molars on either side of each jaw : the ' carnassiere' here has changed its function, not being suited, as in other Carnivora, to cutting flesh. The palate is considerably elongated. In the Bears ( Ursus and its subgenera) it is small, being robbed as it were of its nutriment by the true molars* which are very large. In the other Ursidce {Procyon, Nasua, Cer-coleptes, Arctictis and Aiturus,) the * carnassiere,' especially that of the upper jaw, and the true molars, are nearly equal in size, and also nearly resemble each other in other respects*. In the true Bears the form of the lower jaw differs from that of any of the preceding Carnivora in having a projecting process on the under side of the ramus, and situated a little in advance of the angle of the jaw. The same character is also found in many Seals (PhocidcB), which in several other respects appear to approach the Bears. VII. — Summary Description of Four new Species of Otter, By B. H. Hodgson, Esq., Resident at Catmandu, Nepalf. One of the most remarkable features of the mammalogy of Nepal is the great number of distinct species of Otter characterizing it.. There are at least seven species, I believe, though not one of them is numerous in individuals, at least not in comparison of the common Otter of commerce, which is produced in the neighbourhood of Dacca and Sylhet. This rarity of species, added to the circumstance of the animals not being regularly hunted for their skins, renders it very difficult to procure live specimens ; and without live specimens * *' From an examination of the external characters of JBassaris astiUa, it appears to me that it belongs to this group.'' t From tlie Asiatic Journal, No. 88, p. 31i>.
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