ur *HE FttENCH COAST. 14. 



body and head, together with its hind feet and tail, 

 are of a slatey grey colour. The grey upon these 

 parts is uniform, whilst that on the sides of the body 

 is composed of numerous small round spots, on a 

 ground somewhat paler and more yellow ; all the 

 under part of the body is of this latter colour. 

 Again, when the coat is dry, the grey is to be seen 

 only along the back, and even here it is very faint ; 

 and, with this exception, the body is wholly yellow- 

 ish. This difference of colour appears to depend 

 partly upon the effect of the water on the long silky 

 hairs, which are generally flat, and which, when 

 moist, become somewhat transparent, thus modify- 

 ing the colour of the parts underneath ; arid partly 

 upon the circumstance that, when out of the water, 

 each hair being opaque, curls up at its extremity, and 

 allows the yellow portion, which is situated deeper, 

 to be seen. The oily matter, which lubricates these 

 hairs, appears to issue from certain glandular organs 

 which abound round the eyes, and upon the shoul- 

 ders, flanks, and lower parts of the belly. This 

 matter is black, and offensive to the smell. 



