130 



M AMMALI A— O T T E R. 



chorus with their huntsman, until they arrive near the Calle Pero, or otter 

 city, when the land party divides into three; one watches; another ascends 

 the ford ; while the other pokes the banks, in order to eject the creature. 

 As soon as he is started, the hounds are again in full cry, and the curs are 

 loosed to dive after him, and will relieve each other in this task : as soon 

 as one is up, down goes the other, while the hounds keep up the cry in the 

 water at a slow pace, until they eventually force the creature to the head of 

 the stream into shallow water, where these curs either snap him up, or he is 

 speared by the, hunters ; after this the hounds are allowed the gratification 

 of mouthing him until satisfied, when they again return to depopulate this 

 little commonwealth of otters. 



In their abode the heads, tails, fins, and fragments, of several species of 

 fish will be seen. As he seldom eats more than a mouthful of each fish, 

 he must cause a frightful destruction among the finny race, and his de- 

 predations cause his haunts to be found out at low water, when the 

 hounds would otherwise pass him. 



THE SEA OTTER. i 



1 his harmless, playful, and interesting animal is generally about four 

 feet long, thirteen inches of which are occupied by the tail. The fur is of 

 great value, it being soft and of a deep glossy black. It has long been ex- 

 ported in great quantities by the Russians, who received eighty or a hun- 

 dred rubles from the Chinese for each skin until the market was overstock- 

 ed. The sea otter is to be found only within a very few degrees of latitude 

 in the North Pacific ; its range being mostly confined to the coast of Kamt- 

 schatka, the adjoining islands, and the opposite American shore. Sea 

 otters are perfectly inoffensive, and so sportive that much of their time 

 seems to be passed in playing diverting tricks. They live in pairs, and are 

 very constant to each other. Such is their fondness for their young, that 

 they will never abandon them ; on being robbed of them they will starve 

 themselves to death, and will endeavor to breathe their last on the spot 

 where their offspring were destroyed. 



1 Lutra marina, Desm. 



