Sea Otter 



get the greatest fun from sliding; where the bank is sufficiently 

 steep and slanting they make a roundabout path leading up 

 to the top of the bank and from there they slide down the 

 slippery surface into the water one after another like boys slid- 

 ing down hill on the snow. 



There is usually a playing ground at the head of each of 

 their slides, where the turf is dug up and trampled and broken 

 sticks scattered about. 



In places where the water remains open in the winter the 

 otters take advantage of the snow crust formed by the water 

 dripping from their fur and freezing on the snow, and when 

 travelling overland in snowy weather they always slide down 

 any declivity they come to. 



In the Northern States and Canada they pass most of the 

 winter under the ice. 



Sea Otter 



Latax lutris (Linnaeus) 



Length. 4 feet. 



Description. Thick set, muzzle well beset with bristles presenting 

 much the same appearance as that of the fur seal; tail one- 

 quarter the length of the body. Fore feet rather small, hind 

 feet very large, fully webbed between the toes, teeth curiously 

 blunt and rounded. Body covered with a dense under fur and 

 a longer coarser outer coat as in the fur seal. Colour, black 

 with whitish tips, head and neck grayish or yellowish white. 



Range. Shores of north Pacific, formerly south to northwestern 

 United States, becoming very scarce everywhere. 



Varieties of the Otter 



1. Northern Otter. Lutra canadensis Schreber. Description and 



range as above. 



2. Carolina Otter. L. canadensis lataxina (Cuvier). Much lighter 



brown, becoming pale grayish brown on the throat. 

 Range. Lower Middle and South Atlantic States. 



3. Florida Otter. L. canadensis -vaga Bangs. Darker and redder 



than the last but not so black as the Northern otter, almost 

 as dark below as above. 



Range. Florida, southern Georgia and along the Gulf Coast 

 to Louisiana. 



4. Newfoundland Otter. L. degener. Bangs. Very dark, prac- 



tically black with brown reflections. Size smaller than 

 any of the preceding. 



233 





\ 



