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Show 190 MR. O. THOMAS ON THE PLATE XVII. Fig. 1. Skull of Steatornis caripensis, adult, side view. 2. Skull, upper view. 3. „ lower view. 4. Lower jaw, upper view. PLATE XVIII. Fig. 1. Skull, end view. 2. Os hyoides, upper view. 3. Atlas, front view. 4. Axis, front view. 5. Last dorsal vertebra, front view. 6. „ „ „ hind view. 7. Shoulder-girdle and sternum, lower view. 8. „ „ „ side view. PLATE XIX. [Apr. 2, Fig. 1. Cervical and dorsal vertebrse and ribs, side view. 1 a. Last four cervical ribs. 2. Pelvis and caudal vertebrae, side view. 3. „ „ „ upper view. 4. Left leg, side view. 5. Part of same, front view. PLATE XX. Fig. 1. Left wing, outer view. 2. Part of same, inner view. 3. Tarso-metatarsus, top view. 4. Tibia, lower part, front view. 5. Ankle-joint, side view. 6. Pelvis, lower view. Size of fig. 1^ diam. 1\ diam. »» 2 diam. >> Nat. size. Nat. size. Nat. size. 2 diam. >» )» Nat. size. 2. Preliminary Notes on the Characters and Synonymy of the different Species of Otter. By OLDFIELD THOMAS, Natural History Museum. [Received March 13, 1889.] One of the most interesting and at the same time most difficult groups of M a m m a l s is that of the Otters, a group which many zoologists have tried to work out wholly or in part, but which, owing to the striking resemblance of the species to one another, to the difficulties of obtaining large series, and to the variability of the different forms, has remained to this day in a terrible state of confusion, both as to systematic arrangement and nomenclature. The present paper does not pretend to be anything like a complete monograph of the group, but only attempts to clear up such points in the history of the species as are at present capable of elucidation, while leaving for future investigation many questions which cannot be settled for want of still further material. In connexion with this paper I have to thank sincerely Dr. F. A. Jentink, of Leyden, Prof. Pouchet and Mons. J. Huet, of Paris, |
