Pet «| OAZTATS ETRE 
clofe together: the nofe and the corners of the 
mouth are furnifhed with very long whifkers; fo 
that the whole appearance of the otter is fome- 
thing terrible: it has thirty-fix teeth, fix cutting 
and two canine above and below; of the former 
the middiemoft are the left: it has befides five 
grinders on each fide in both jaws. The legs are 
very fhort, but remarkably ftrong, broad, and muf- 
cular; the joints articulated fo loofely, that the ani- 
mal is capable of turning them quite back, and 
bringing them ona line with the body, fo as to 
perform the office of fins. Each foot is furnifhed 
with five toes, connected by ftrong broad webs, like 
thofe of water fowl. Thus nature in every article 
has had attention to the way of life fhe had allotted 
to an animal, whofe food is ffh; and whofe haunts 
muft neceffarily be about waters. 
The color of the otter is entirely a deep brown, 
except two {mall {pots of white on each fide the 
nofe, and another underthe chin. The fkin of this 
animal is very valuable, if killed in the winter; 
and is greatly ufed in cold countries for lining 
cloaths: but in England it is only ufed for covers 
for piftol furniture. The beft furs of this kind 
come from the northern part of Europe, and Ame- 
yica. hole of N. America are larger than the 
European otters. The Indians make ule of their 
fkins for pouches, and ornament them with bits of 
horn. The fineft fort come from the colder parts 
of that continent: where they are alfo moft nume- 
H 3 ous, 
93 
Fu pe, 
