392 RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. 



the gull comes down to make a catch he is himself caught. 

 The sea-lion grows to be nine feet long. 



Sea elephants are found occasionally on the coast of Cali- 

 fornia, and on a few islands, and not elsewhere north of the 

 equator. They are killed for their oil, each full-grown animal 

 yielding from 90 to 180 gallons. They shed their coat every 

 year, and then suddenly change their color from a yellowish 

 brown to a dark gray, which continues for four or five months, 

 and then alters gradually. The animal sometimes reaches a 

 length of eighteen feet. 



312. Otter, etc. The American beavers (Castor canaden- 

 sis) were once very abundant in all the large streams of Cali- 

 fornia, and it was chiefly for their sakes that the first American 

 trappers entered the country, about 1827. They are still found 

 in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. They rarely 

 build dams in California, but live in burrows in the banks. 

 When they dive they slap the water with their tails, making 

 a noise that can be heard at a considerable distance on a still 

 night. Their skins, which once commanded very high prices, 

 have lost much of their value since the adoption of silk for 

 making hats. 



The common mink (Putorius vison) is found in California, 

 but is not abundant. The general color of the animal is 

 dark brownish-chestnut, 'with a white spot on the end of the 

 chin. The skin of the mink is as valuable as that of the 

 beaver. 



The Californian otter {Lutra califbmica) is found all along 

 this coast, and was formerly abundant on all the large streams. 

 It is carnivorous, living entirely on fish and shell-fish. It pre- 

 fers large streams and lakes for its home, while the plant-eat- 

 ing beaver prefers small streams. The Califoruian otter is 

 sometimes five feet long from the point of the nose to the tip 

 of the tail. When in the water, its hair is at times beautiful- 

 ly iridescent. 



The sea-otter (Enhydra marina) is larger than the Califor- 



