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Show ZOOLOGY OF TilE VOYAGE OF TilE BEAGLE. 22 The La Plata Otter in its general colouring is of a somewhat deeper hue than the European species, the checks and throat instead of being nearly white are of a pale brown colour; the tail is longct· in proportio~, a~d tapers m.ore grauual~y ; the tip of the muzzle is nakeu, but the hairless portw~ 1s less than m that spec1es, the boundary line between the naked part and the hau of the top of the muzzle forming almost a semicircle; the retiring extremities of this line touch the posterior angle of the nostril on each iue, whereas in the common otter the boundary line of the hair of the muzzle is of a w-like form. The skull is figured in Plate 35, figs. 4, a, b, c, and d, and is compared with that of L. Cltilensis in the next description. "This specimen was killed by some fishermen a few miles from Maldonado, near the mouth of the estuary of the Plata, where the water is quite salt. I am not, however, by any means sure that it may not be a fresh-water species, which had wandered from its proper station ; in the same manner as not unfrequently is the case with the Ilydrocltcents Capybara. I am indebted to Mr. Chaffers, the master of the Beagle, for having kindly presented me with this spcci-men."- D. 2. LuTnA CHILENsJs. LnLr:t Chilcnsis, Bmnell, Proceedings of tho Committee of Science and Correspondence of the Zoological ."ocicty of London for 1 832, p. l. L. j'usca; vcllere mediocri, laxo et sub-extante; mento, gullt, ct Jaciei laleribus, pallide .{ttscis; pedibus saturate .fuscis; c01poris pilis ad apicent pallide fuscis ; cattdlt mediocri; 1·ostri apice calvo. DESCRTPTION.-This species scarcely equals a full grown European otter in size. It is of a brown colour throughout; the checks, chin, and throat, being slightly paler, and the feet of a deeper tint, than the other parts. The fur is moderately long, rather harsh to the touch, and semi-erect: the under fur is abundant, and of a soft and silk nature. The hairs of the ordinary fur are deep brown, but tipped with a very pale brown colour. The hairs of the tail, like those of the body, are harsh and semi-erect; towards the apex, those on the upper and under part are in a slight degree shorter than those at the sides, and lie closer to the skin; these differences, however, are not very apparent on the upper side, though distinct on the under. The feet are naked beneath, with the exception of the posterior half of the tarsus. The hair of the muzzle extends only down to the posterior angle of the MAMl\fALIA. 23 nostrils, where it terminates in a straight line le . naked. ' avmg the tip of the muzzle J,cngth from nose to root of tail . ln. Lines. I · 3l 0 Length of tail Habitat, Chonos Archipelago , ( JTa nua1'y. ) In. Lines. 14 3 The Chile Otter was originally described b M presented to the Zoological S . t b M y. r. Bennett fmm a specimen ocie y y r Cummg b t h' . young anima] scarcely llalf . d · • u as t ts specimen is a the species in 's o marked -grown ' It oes no t pi.e sent some of the characte•·s of of an adult specimen . a Mm~nnDer as .the adult. I have, therefore, availed myself scn•p tion. 111 I. arwm's collectw' n, t 0 d raw up the above de- . Compared with the Common Otter (L . l .· difference consists in th l ul1 a vu gans, Auct.) the most striking e C11aracter of the fur. th h · · d . pressed as in th t . · e mrs 1nstea of being ad- . a species, are here semi-ere t d . clipped at the extremity Tl f . c , an appear as If they had been · 1e ur IS of a tlceper ] b b · . appearance, owing to the ti of c . . . co ?ur, nt as a sltghtly gnzzlecl remaining part. p ach han bemg of a much paler colour than the In the young animal described b Mr B . . . bal>ly not mor tl . y . ennett, (whtch m weight was pro-arc of an .; . landone-tlnrd of that of the present animal) the hairs of the body um Oim eep brown colour· I 'f I · , Darwin's anitnal tl ' 1ence, 1 am nght m considering l\11•• of the fur <i s de asd 1c same spec i·e s, 1' t wou ld appear that the grizzled character . pen cnt on age . LutmT hPel asetem i-:e .r.e cttl fufr wi.l l a.l so sm.v e to tl'I st.m gm. sh the present species from the smaller in nszs' 1e ur IS hkew· ] h · · 1 )ropoi·t'o Tl 1 ~e ongcr, t e tad IS slwrter, anti the feet are by the skulls. I I · 11 • 1e most unp 01· t an t 1· .. · 1 . t Istmctwns, 10wevcr, are fumished , Will, therefore, compare tbem. f.i gs T4h)e skull of L. Cltz'lensis . d . h I 1 . compme w1t t tat of L. Platensis (Plate "15 . . w len vwwed from ab , , . . . ' . , is howe . 1 . ove, p1esents but httle difference m general form. it co' nvex . vtelt , smal er m all it . . . . ' 1 . s P10P01 ttoHs, and the zygomatic arch is a little less smalle . 1 tc pn ate ts j)l'oport'o . t l I h . 1 · 1 na e Y 8 10rter; t e tympame bullre are much c r, ess e evatetl, and wid . t . h' I . proximation t tl k 01 apat • m w IC l respect there IS a greater ap-tympanic b llo le. s ull of L · vula~- an. .s tl lan t o t 11 at o f L . Platensz.s ; but !Jere, the tensis th ub w a1. e larger than m L · c·l~t l· ze usz·s . B oth m· L. C!tilensis and Pta- downw' ared ss u h-o'lr btt.a l ~o r. am·m a ~re k'I dney-shaped, the emarginated portion beino· the apex b ' · w 1 st ll1 L · vulno· arzs the Y a· pproac l1 somew 11 at to a tn·a ngulnr fi gnr larger til em. g exter-nal . In L . C!,t t· te nst·s , h owevet·, tht.s foramen I.S comrJarat'i vely' an •u L · Pla te, nsl.s , an d t I1 e outer portw. n of the foramen forms the |