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Show 1870.] MR. R. SWINHOE O N THE MAMMALS OF HAINAN. 229 10. THE CLAWLESS OTTER. Aonyx leptonyx (Horsf.). A. horsfieldi, Gray, Mag. Nat. Hist. i. p. 580 (1837). I heard of a second species of Otter in Hainan that lived among the mountains. The Gazetteer speaks of it thus : - " There is a race produced by the mating of the common Otter with the female Yuen (Hylobates), called the Cha-kia (Mountain-Otter). Their bones are found in caverns, and yield an antidote to the poison used on arrowheads by the savage tribes. People wounded by arrows grind to powder a small quantity and apply it to the wound; the powder at once stops the effect of the poison." I procured three skins of this animal at the trading-station above referred to, and saw at once that it was quite distinct from the common Otter. Two of the skins are of adults, the third of an animal about two-thirds grown. There appear to be two groups of Otters with minute pointless claws classed under the genus Aonyx, the one to be distinguished from the other by longer and more fully webbed toes. To the former of these belong Lutra leptonyx, Horsf., from Java, and Aonyx horsfieldi, Gray, from Malacca; which two Dr. J. E. Gray subsequently united as Aonyx leptonyx (P. Z. S. 1865, p. 130). To the latter belong the Lutra indiyitata, Hodgs., from Nepaul, and certain specimens in the Museum from Madras. M y Hainan skins agree in the form of the foot and in the texture of the fur with the fine specimen from Wellesley (Malacca) on which Dr. Gray founded his Aonyx horsfieldi; but the tail in the Hainan race is much longer, and it wants the pure white throat of the other, and differs also in the tone of its brown colouring. The skull of the Malacca specimen is in the skin. The Hainan race appears to me to be distinct from this, apparently, its nearest ally; but it is impossible to establish a species of Otter without a comparison of skulls, and I have none of the Hainan kind. I will therefore content myself with giving a description of the appearance of the skins. Adult. General colour rich brown, except the throat, underneck, and breast, which are whitish, the down of the latter parts being light brown. Hairs shorter and the down more abundant than in Lutra chinensis. Down of the upper parts the same rich brown on surface as the hairs, whitish at base. Ears small and oval, the same colour in front and behind as the back, with a pale outer edge. Muzzle and cheek-whiskers stiff and brown. Length from muzzle to root of tail 20 inches; length of tail 13 inches; from ear to eye 2 inches, from eye to nostril 1*25. The hind feet alone are remaining ; their claws are without points, and truncated, the toes are well webbed, and there is a broad hollow space between the sole-pads and the ends of the toes. Sole-pad to tip of fourth toe *9 ; length of sole 1*9, greatest breadth *75. The young animal is softer and washed with buff throughout. Its ears have no light edging; and its throat, underneck, and breast are light brownish chestnut. Its whiskers are blacker. From L. chinensis the Hainan Aonyx differs in the texture and |
