174 HUNTING THE SEA OTTER. 



packs, they do not hesitate to attack a full-grown whale and 

 destroy it. 



Here we have another reason for the supposed gregarious- 

 ness of the sea otter. Being no match for the grampus in 

 the water and the shore inaccessible, a retreat to the beds 

 of kelp weed would afford the only means of obtaining 

 security from the attacks of the killers. 



