100 DIVISION I. VEKTEBUAL iVNLMALS. — CLASS I. MAMMALIA. 



luindrcil miles from land. The sea otters are social in their habits, and 

 lari'-e trooiis of them are often seen far at sea, froliekini;' on the wave, and 

 are often diseo\ered in an ereet posture, euriousl}- looking about, and shading 

 their eyes, as men dn, in ordi'r to see with more distini'tness. 



This species is, witlmut dmilit, the sea ape, of which >Steller s|icahs, and 

 the fSiiniti, 31<(n'i/a, of iSwainson. The latter says: "In the circle of the 

 Fcne, the natatorial type is represented by the seals, and the corresjxmding 

 type of the quadruniana is at jircsent assuredly wanting. \\ hatcvcr its precise 

 construction may, or might have been, a resemblance to the monkeys must be 

 considered an essential character of any marine animal which is to connect 

 and complete the circular series of tyjjcs in the quadrumana. That some 

 such creature has really been created, we have not a shadow of a duubt. 



!Mr. Steller saw on the coast of America a very singular animal, which he 

 calls a sea ape. It was five feet long ; the head was like a dog's ; the ears 

 Were shaip and erect, and the eyes large; there was on butli lips a siirt of 

 beard. The i'orm of its bmly was thick and roimd, being thickest near the 

 head, and tapering to the tail, mIucIi was bifurcated, and the upper lolie was 

 the l(iUL;('>t ; the body was emcred with thick hair, gray on the l]ack, and 

 red on the bellv. It was fidl of i'rdlii', and played a thousand moidvcy 

 tricks, sometimes swimming on one ^ide and sometimes im the iithcr of the 

 ship, hulking at it with great amazement. It would come so near that it 

 might lie touched with a jmle ; but it' an\- one stirred, it would immediately 

 retire. It often raised one third of its body out of the water, and stood 

 erect for a considerable time ; it then suddenly dai'ted luider the ship, and 

 aii[ieared in the same attitude on the other side ; and it would repeat this 

 mo\-emciit thirty times together. It would frequently bring up a sea-jilant, 

 not unlike a bottle-gourd, which it woidd toss about and catch again in its 

 mouth, playing numberless fantastic tricks with it. 



There is no question that this frolicsome animal, called by Steller the sea 

 ape, was nothing more nor less than the great sea otter, in one of its play- 

 ful moods. 



The Aleut Islanders show a wonderful dexterity in the ea|iture of this ani- 

 mal. In April or jMay they assemble at an a[)pointed spot, in their light 

 skin-boats, or b'/idars, and choose one of the most rcsjiected (aijiola, or 

 chiefs, for the leader of the expedition, which generally numlicrs from fifty 

 to a hiuidred boats. Such hunting parties are annually organized from the 

 Kurile Islands to Kadjack, and conseipicntly exteml over a line ot thrce^ 

 thousaml miles. On the first fine day the expedition sets out, and proceeds 

 to the distance of about fortv miles froiu the coast, when the haiddrs ioriu 

 into a long line, leaving an interval of about two hundred and fifty fathoms 

 from boat to boat, as far as a sea otter di\ing out of the water can be seen. 



