SEA OTTER. 



Aleutian and Fox islands, between Asia and Ame- 

 rica. They land also in the Kuril islands, but are 

 never seen in the channel between the north-east 

 of Siberia and America. It is supposed that they 

 bring but one at a time. They are most ex- 

 tremely harmless animals, and are singularly af- 

 fectionate to their young. They bring forth on 

 land, and often carry the young one between 

 their teeth; fondle them, and frequently fling 

 them up and catch them again in their paws ; 

 and before they can swim, the parents take them 

 in their fore feet, and swim about on their backs. 

 The young continues with its parent till it takes 

 a mate. 



This animal is killed for its skin, which is one 

 of the most valuable of furs, being sold at the 

 rate of from 14 to 25 pounds sterling each. They 

 are said to be chiefly sold to the Chinese. 



The Sea Otter is sometimes taken with nets, 

 but is more frequently destroyed with clubs and 

 spears.. 



In the Philosophical Transactions for the year 

 1 796, we meet with a description of the Sea Otter 

 by Mr. A. Menzies, accompanied by some obser- 

 vations by Mr. Home. From the description there 

 given it appears that the hind feet were com- 

 pletely covered with hair both above and below, 

 except a small bare spot beneath each toe, so that 

 in this particular the animal either varies, or the 

 hair at some particular seasons may fall away 

 from the webs of the feet, so as to leave the skin 

 bare, as mentioned in Mr. Pennant's description ; 



