THE SEA OTTER. 3l3 



cooking for the dinner of the religious of that rigid 

 order ; who by their rules are prohibited, during 

 their whole lives, the eating of flesh *. — The Kamts- 

 chadales use the Otter's fur for garments ; and the 

 North American Indians manufacture their skins 

 into pouches, which they ornament with bits of horn, 



THE SEA OTTER f. 



The Sea Otter is found on the coast of Kamts- 

 chatka, and in the adjacent islands, as well as on the 

 opposite coasts of America ; but it is confined within 

 a very few degrees of latitude. Its whole length is 

 about four feet, of which the tail occupies thirteen 

 inches. The fur is extremely soft, and of a deep glossy 

 black. The ears are small and erect, and the whisk- 

 ers long and white. The legs are short and thick, 

 the hinder ones somewhat resembling those of a 

 Seal. The weight of the largest Sea Otters is from 

 seventy to eighty pounds. 



In their manners these animals are very harmless ; 

 and towards their offspring they exhibit an uncom- 

 mon degree of attachment. They will never desert 

 them ; and 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 de- 

 stroyed. — ^The female produces only a single young 

 one at a time ; which she suckles almost a whole 



* renn. Brit. Zool. i. 94. 

 t Synonyms. — TvutraMarina. Sha\i'. — MustelaLutiis. Linn. — Sea 



Ottei-. Penn. Shaiis Gen. Zool.pl. 101.— L'tw. 'Jluail. 4^. 



Z 4 



