482 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



one, the largest of the three, possessed expn-atory orifices 

 from half to three-fourths of an inch in diameter. This 

 species was of a pale straw colour, with a thin outer rind, 

 easily broken, a coarse horny skeleton, and an abundant sup- 

 ply of yellow fluid matter, which contained numerous solid 

 yellow specks, probably the ova. The second form was 

 of a brilliant orange-yellow tint ; and the third, of a firmer 

 consistence than the other two, was of a pale grass-green 

 hue. They generally occurred at a depth of ten or eleven 

 feet, where we perceived them by leaning over the side of 

 the boat, and gazing downwards through the clear water, dis- 

 lodging them with much trouble with the end of an oar's 

 blade. I greatly regretted being obliged to cut up these 

 splendid specimens, in order to preserve them, as the damp 

 weather entirely prevented the possibility of drying them.* 

 Towards the close of the afternoon we had a most exciting 

 otter-hunt. Several of these animals were observed playing 

 about among the beds of kelp, and one was severely hit, but 

 after floundering about for a few minutes, swam rapidly 

 off, while we pulled after it with our utmost speed, getting 

 within a few yards of it. It, however, dived repeatedly, and 

 at last vanished from our sight for a time. We had been 

 eagerly watching for its re- appearance for a few minutes, 

 when we heard the most piteous cries that I think I have 

 ever listened to from an animal, and saw it at some distance 

 with its head above water, clinging to the foot of a steep 

 bank. It was a truly harrowing sight, and cooled down my 

 sporting ardour very thoroughly for the time. A few minutes 

 later, the poor creature disappeared, having probably gone 

 down to the bottom to die, and we saw no more of it. 



* I hope, ere many months have elapsed, to describe these species, which I 

 have not as yet had sufficient leisure to examine with care. 



