THE OTTER. 



PLATE XXXJV . T HE OTTER. 



THE gradations of nature from one class of beings to 

 another are made by imperceptible deviations. As in op- 

 posite armies the two bodies are distinct and separated 

 from each other, while yet between them are various troops 

 that plunder on both sides arid are friends to neither ; so 

 between terrestrial and aquatic animals there are tribes 

 that can scarce be referred to any rank, but lead an am- 

 phibious life between them. Sometimes in water, some- 

 times on land, they seem fitted for each element, and yet 

 completely adapted to neither. Wanting the agility of 

 quadrupeds upon land, and the perseverance of fishes in 

 the deep, the variety of their powers only seems to di- 

 mmish their force ; and though possessed of two different 

 methods of living, they are more inconveniently provided 

 than such as have but one. 



All quadrupeds of this kind, though covered with hair in 

 the usual manner, are furnished with membranes between 

 the toes, which assist their motion in the water. Their 

 paws are broad and their legs short, by which they are 

 more completely fitted for swimming; for, taking short 

 strokes at a time, they make them oftener and with greater 

 rapidity. Some, however, of these animals are more 

 adapted to live in the water than others ; but, as their 

 power increases to live in the deep, their unfimess for liv- 

 ing upon land increases in the same proportion. Some, 

 like the otter, resemble quadrupeds in every thing except 

 in being in some measure web-footed ; others depart stilt 

 farther, in being, like the beaver, not only web-footed, but 

 having the tail covered with scales, like those of a fish. 



