CARNIVORA.: MUSTELID^E. 



47 



the central longer than the exterior ones, and tail de- 

 pressed and rounded at the sides. Otters are aquatic, 

 and are found in all parts of the world. They feed upon 

 fish, which they pursue with such dexterity that few are 

 swift enough to elude them. Otters have a singular 

 and amusing habit of sporting. Selecting a bank of 

 snow in winter, or a clayey bank in summer, they scram- 

 ble to the top, and then slide head foremost to the bot- 

 tom. If their sliding-place leads into the river, as is 

 generally the case, they go plump into the water, whence 

 they quickly come forth again to repeat an operation 

 which evidently gives them great satisfaction. 



The Ameri- 

 can Otter, L.ca- 

 nadensis, Sab., 

 of North Amer- 

 ica east of the 

 Rocky Moun- 

 tains, is about 

 four and a half 

 feet long, in- 

 cluding the tail, 

 which is eigh- 

 teen inches in 

 length. The 

 color is liver- 

 brown above, 

 slightly lighter beneath, sides of head and neck dirty- 

 whitish. The fur is of two kinds ; one long, somewhat 

 coarse, and scattered, the other shorter, fine, and dense. 



The California Otter, L. calif owica, Gray, of the Pacific 

 coast, closely resembles L. canadensis. 



The Genus Enhydra comprises the Sea Otter, E. ma- 

 rina, Flem., of the Pacific coast of both hemispheres, 

 which reminds us of the seals. It is about twice the 



American Otter, L. canadensis^ Sabine. 



