CHAPTER Vr. 

 THE SEA OTTER. 



(Plate sxii.) 



The most valuable fur-bearing animals inhabiting the waters of the North-west- 

 ern Coast of North America are the Sea Otters. They are found as far south as 

 twenty -eight degrees north latitude, and their northern limits include the Aleutian 

 Islands. Although never migrating to the southern hemisphere, these peculiar 

 amphibious animals are found around the isolated points of southern Kamschatka, 

 and even to the western Kuriles, a chain of islands that separates the Okhotsk Sea 

 from the north-eastern Pacific. The length of the full-grown animal may average 

 five feet, including the tail, which is about ten inches. The head resembles that of 

 the Fur Seal. The eyes of the Sea Otter are full, black, and piercing, and exhibit 

 much intelligence. The color of the female, when "in season," is quite black; at 

 other periods, it is a dark brown. The males are usually of the same shade, 

 although, in some instances, they are of a jet, shining black, like their mates. 

 The fur is of a much lighter shade inside than upon the surface, and, extending 

 over all, are scattering, long, glistening hairs, which add much to the richness and 

 beauty of the pelage. Some individuals, about the nose and eyes, are of a light 

 brown, or dingy white. The ears are less than an inch in length, quite pointed, 

 standing nearly erect, and are covered with short hair. Occasionally, the young 

 are of a deep brown, with the ends of the longest hairs tipped with white, and, 

 about the nose and eyes, of a cream color. 



The mating season of the Sea Otter is not known, as the young are met with 

 in all months of the year ; hence, it is reasonable to suppose they differ from most 

 other species of fur- bearing marine mammalia in this respect. The time of gesta- 

 tion is supposed to be eight or nine months. 



The hind feet, or flippers, of the animal are webbed, much like the seal's. 

 Its fore legs are short, the fore paws resembling those of a cat, being furnished with 

 five sharp claws, as are the posterior flippers. 



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