S.S2 NATURALIST'S CABIKET. 



Affection towards the young. 



They will never desert them ; but will even starve 

 themselves to death on being robbed of them, 

 and strive to breathe their last on the spot where 

 their young have been destroyed. The female 

 produces only a single young one at a time; 

 which she suckles almost a whole year. The pa- 

 rents often carry their young between their teeth, 

 and fondle them, frequently flinging them up 

 and catching them again in their paws. Before 

 these can swim, the old ones will take them in 

 their fore-feet, and swim about with them upon 

 their backs. 



Sea otters swim sometimes on their sides; at 

 other times on their backs, or in an upright posi- 

 tion. They are very sportive, and two of them 

 may be frequently seen embracing each other. 

 When attacked they make no resistance, but en- 

 deavour to save themselves by flight: if, how- 

 ever, they are closely pressed, and, can see no 

 means of escape, they scold and grin like an 

 angry cat. On receiving a blow, they immedi- 

 ately lie on their side, draw up their hind-legs, 

 cover their eyes with their fore-paws, and thus 

 seem to prepare themselves for death. But if 

 the}' are fortunate enough ,to escape their pur- 

 suer, they deride him as soon as they are safe in 

 the sea, with various diverting tricks: at one 

 time, keeping themselves on end in the water, 

 and jumping over the waves, holding their fore- 

 paw over the eyes, as if to shade them from thq 



