254 ORDER V. 



THE SEA OTTER, 

 PLATE XX.* 



Enhydra marina, FLEM. 



THE species which we take to he the true Enhydra, 

 is that noticed by Captain Cook, and figured hy Mr. 

 Webber. We believe it was the same skin, subse- 

 quently stuffed, which served for the engraving of 

 the Sea Otter in Pennant's Hist, of Quadrupeds, 4 to 

 title page, vol. 2d. Large specimens of this species 

 are above 4 feet in total length ; their fur is exceed- 

 ingly fine and close, of a shining deep sepia, occa- 

 sionally grizzled with white tipped hairs ; or of a 

 rich chestnut-brown ; the head, as in other species, 

 is liable to be whitish, and this colour extends some- 

 times to the abdomen and feet. This animal is the 

 boldest swimmer of the amphibious tribe, for troops 

 of them are met with at three hundred miles from 

 land. They perform many antics in the water, and 

 are occasionally seen balancing themselves in an 

 erect posture, holding a fore paw over their eyes, in 

 order to look about them with more distinctness. * 

 It is found in the Northern Pacific, frequenting the 

 coast of Behring's Island, Kamschatka, the Aleu- 

 thian Islands, &c., all through the latitudes from 49 

 * Thus balanced, with a " hand" up, they are sea apes. 



