78 CARNIVORA. 



length. The American Otter frequents running streams and 

 large ponds, and sometimes is found on the shores of some of our 

 great lakes. It prefers those waters which are clear, and a bur- 

 row in the banks, the entrance to which is under water. Their 

 favorite sport is said to be sliding down steep banks, head fore- 

 most, sometimes for the distance of twenty yards. When shot 

 and killed in water, they sink from the weight of their bones, 

 which are solid and heavy, so that in deep water, the hunter may 

 lose his game. The American Otter, like the European, when 

 taken young, is easily tamed, will follow its owner, and sometimes 

 is playful. Audubon had one which was very familiar, and 

 much attached to him. And he relates that a landlord in the in- 

 terior of Ohio, had four Otters alive which were so gentle that 

 they would come when he whistled for them, and approach him 

 with much apparent humility. This species ranges almost the 

 whole of North America, but is now obtained most readily in 

 Maryland, and the western parts of the United States. The Brit- 

 ish provinces of North America annually furnish a considerable 

 number. Their furs are much esteemed. 



Enhydra marina. (Mustela Lutris, Linnaeus.) SEA OTTER. 



The generic name enliydra, is from the Greek evvdgog, (enu- 

 dnos,) ev, (en, in,) 'vdag, (hudor, water.) The palmated feet, and 

 the teeth of this genus are so modified as to connect this Otter 

 with the Seal, (Otia,) which have ears. The color is chestnut 

 brown or black ; the fur exceedingly fine and velvety ; the size 

 about twice that of the Common Otter. In length it is from four 

 to five feet. The hind legs and thighs are short, and better 

 adapted for swimming than in other mammalia, seals excepted ; 

 the hind feet are flat and webbed, and clothed with glossy hairs. 

 The hair, both on the body and tail, is of two kinds ; the longer 

 hairs are silky and glossy, but not very numerous ; the fur is 

 shorter hair, exceedingly fine and soft. This Otter runs very 

 swiftly, and swims with great rapidity, either on its back or 

 sides, and sometimes as if upright in the water. It has very 

 long intestines, they being twelve times as long as the animal, 

 while those of the Common Otter are but three and one-fourth 

 times its length. It seems to have more the manners of a seal 

 than a land otter; haunts sea-washed rocks, and lives mostly in 

 the water. The female brings forth its young on land, and 

 though the animal is marine, it is found occasionally, very far 

 from the sea. 



The Kamtschatdales, on whose coasts the greatest numbers of 

 these animals are killed, exchange the skins with the Russians, 

 for those of the fox and sable ; and the Russian merchants for- 



