118 OTTER. Class I. 



in quadrupeds : the ears extremely short, and 

 their orifice narrow : the opening of the mouth 

 is small, the lips muscular, and capable of being 

 brought very close together : the nose and the 

 corners of the mouth are furnished with very 

 long whiskers, so that the whole appearance of 

 the otter is something terrible : it has thirty-six 

 teeth, six cutting and two canine above and be- 

 low ; of the former the middlemost are the lest ; 

 it has besides five grinders on each side in both 

 jaws. The legs are very short, but remarkably 

 strong, broad, and muscular ; the joints articu- 

 lated so loosely, that the animal is capable of 

 turning them quite back, and bringing them on 

 a line with the body, so as to perform the office 

 of fins. Each foot is furnished with five toes, 

 connected by strong broad webs, like those of 

 "water fowl. Thus nature in every article has 

 had attention to the way of life she allotted to 

 an animal, whose food is fish, and whose haunts 

 must necessarily be about waters. 



The color of the otter is entirely a deep brown, 

 except two small spots of white on each side the 

 Fur. nose, and another under the chin. The skin of 

 this animal is very valuable, if killed in the win- 

 ter, and is greatly used in cold countries for 

 lining cloaths ; but in England it only serves for 

 covers for pistol furniture. The best furs of 



