CHAPTER XI. 



Subfamily ENHYDPJN^: Sea Otter. 



General considerations — The genus Enhydris — Generic characters — Enhydria 

 lutris, the Sea Otter — Synonymy — Habitat — Specific characters — Descrip- 

 tion of external characters — Description of the skull and teeth — History 

 of the species — "The Sea Otter and its hunting" — The habits of the Sea 

 Otter. 



LASTLY, we come to consider a particular modification of 

 the Musteline type of structure, which may be regarded as 

 an exaggeration of various features characterizing the Lutrince, 

 with the superposition of others not elsewhere found in the 

 family. With the general aspect of an ordinary Otter, the 

 Unhydrince present a special modification of the limbs, more 

 particularly of the hind limbs, which are developed into flipper- 

 like organs, not very dissimilar to those of some Seals. There is 

 also a special condition of the pelage. The cranium, in gen- 

 eral, is like that of the Lutrince, but the teeth are unlike any- 

 thing else seen in the family Mustelidce. One pair of incisors 

 is wanting, which makes the dental formula unique. Moreover, 

 the whole dentelure is modified in adaptation to a piscivorous 

 regimen. The sectorial teeth are defunctionalized as suchj if 

 the teeth of ordinary carnivorous quadrupeds be likened to 

 fresh-chipped, sharp and angular bits of rock, those of the 

 Enhydrince are comparable to water- worn pebbles. 



The Enhydrince are represented, as far as known, by a single 

 genus and species, inhabiting the coasts and islands of the 

 North Pacific. It is the only thoroughly marine species of the 

 family j it furnishes one of the most valuable of all pelts in a 

 commercial point of view, and its chase is an important indus- 

 try. 



The Genus ENHYDRIS. (Fleming.) 



< Mustela sp. Linnceus, Syst. Nat. 1758-66. 



< Phoca sp. Pallaa, Zoog. K.-A. 1831. 



< Lutra sp. of various authors. 



= Pusa, Oken, Lehrb. Naturg. 1816. (Not of Scopoli.) 



•= Enhydra,* Fleming, Philos. Zool. 1822. (Also written Enhydris, Enydris.) 



= Latas, Gloger, N. Act. Nat. Cur, 1827. (Not of Gray.) 



* Etym. — See antea, p. 29, for discussion of the philological bearings of this 

 ■word. 



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