222 



MUSEUM OF ANIMATED NATURE. 



OtTERo. 



The common European otter measures about two 

 feet two inches in the length of the head and body, 

 the tail being one foot four inches. Its usual weight 

 is from twenty to twenty-four pounds, but instances 

 have been known in which it has attained the 

 weight cf forty pounds. Those that frequent the 

 sea-coast are generally larger and darker-coloured 

 than the otters of inland rivers or sheets of water. 

 The female produces from three to five young, and 

 is devoted to them, nursing them with the greatest 

 assiduity. 



A variety, spotted with white, is sometimes seen ; 

 this is regarded by the Scotch peasantry as the 

 king of the otters, and they hold that it bears a 

 charmed life, and is never killed without the sudden 

 death of some man or other animal at the instant it 

 expires itself. The skin is considered as a sure 

 preservative from infection, wounds, and dangers of 

 the sea. 



983. — The Sea-Otter 

 (Enhydra marina, Fleming). Lutra marina, Steller ; 

 Mustek lutris, Linn.; Enydris Stelleri, Fischer; 

 Kalan of the natives of Kamtchatka. This remark- 

 able animal in many respects approaches nearer the 

 seals than the otters of the genus Lutra, and may 

 be regarded as an intermediate link between the two 

 groups. We have fortunately been enabled to exa- 

 mine its skeleton (see ' Zool. Proceeds.,' 1836, p. 59), 

 which to the comparative anatomist presents cha- 

 racters of great interest. The muzzle in the sea- 

 otter is blunt and short, the ears are rounded, the 

 body cylindrical, the fore-limbs are extremely short, 

 the paws small and impacted in skin to the end of 

 the toes, the sole being naked and granular. The 

 hind-legs are short, but placed as far back as pos- 

 sible ; the thigh-bone is" thick, with a round head, 

 destitute, as in the seals, of the ligamentum teres ; 

 the hind-foot or paddle is of great length and 

 breadth; and the toes (five in number) are regu- 

 larly graduated from the inner, which is the 

 smallest, to the outer toe, which is the longest and 

 stoutest : they are all united by webs to the very 

 tip. The claws are small. The dentition is as 



n ^ 1 4 4 



follows :— Incisors -, canines, - — r , molars - — -. Of 



4 1 — 1 5— a 



the molars above, the first is very small and conical, 

 the second is larger; the third, or carnassiere, is 

 large and compressed, with three rounded tubercles 

 on its surface ; the last molar is still larger, flat, 

 with a slightly elevated and rounded edge. Of the 

 five molars below, the three first increase gradually 

 in size ; the fourth is large and flat, with three small 

 and rounded tubercles ; the last is small and flat. 



The tail is rather short, and when the hinder 

 paddles are stretched out in the act of swimming, 

 this organ will appear placed between almost as 

 much as it is in the seals. 



The sea-otter is a native of the north-west coast 

 of America, from California to latitude 60°, and of 

 the opposite coast of Asia, from the Yellow Sea to 

 the north of Kamtchatka and the intermediate 

 islands. Its fur, which is of a black colour, some- 

 times chestnut-brown, and occasionally even yellow, 

 is soft, full, and beautiful, and is an object of com- 

 merce, being procured by the Russians for the 

 Chinese market, where it sells for a high price. 



This animal haunts sea-washed rocks, and lives 

 mostly in the water, where it procures its food, 

 which consists of fish, and, as is indicated by the 

 characters of the teeth, which are evidently formed 

 for bruising hard substances, shelled mollusks, and 

 Crustacea. In summer the sea-otter often ascends 

 the rivers to the inland lakes. The female produces 

 on land a single cub. The average length of this 

 species is three feet, exclusive of the tail, which 

 measures about ten inches. 



Family PHOCID^E (Seals). 

 Of all four-limbed mammalia the seals (Phocidge) 

 are those which most display in every part of their 

 organization a fitness for the watery element. The 

 body is elongated, and conical, tapering from the 

 chest to the 'tail (see skeleton, Fig. 984), the pelvis 

 being so narrow as not to interrupt the gradual de- 

 crease. The spine is provided with muscles capable 

 of inflecting it with considerable force. The 

 clothing consists of short, stiff, glossy hairs, very 

 closely set, and adpressed against the skin. The 

 limbs are oars or paddles. The anterior pair have 

 the humerus and fore-arm so short, that little more 

 than the paw alone advances from the body : this 

 in reality consists of five fingers, but they are im- 

 pacted in skin, the nails, which are flat, indicating 

 their number. The hinder limbs are directed back- 

 wards, and terminate the body ; the bones are short 

 and strong, and the hip-joints want the ligamentum 

 teres. The feet are broad-webbed paddles, consist- 

 ing of five toes, the central of which is the shortest, 

 the outer one on each side the longest : when not 

 in action the webs of these paddles are folded, and 

 the toes in contact, but when brought into use they 

 spread and effect a broad surface. Between these 



paddles is the short and compressed tail. On land 

 or masses of ice these animals are very awkward 

 and clumsy, but they scuttle along by the action of 

 the anterior paddles, dragging their hinder quarters 

 after them, and manage to proceed with tolerable 

 rapidity; they can also climb rocks and crags 

 of ice. 



The neck in these aquatic animals is very long 

 and singularly flexible; the head is round, with a 

 large full fleshy muzzle, furnished with long stiff 

 whiskers ; the nostrils are valvular, and capable of 

 being closed at will ; the eyes are large and dark, 

 with a mild intelligent expression, and are adapted 

 for subaquatic vision. The external ears are either 

 wanting or very small, and the auditory orifice is 

 valvular ; the tongue is almost smooth, and i's 

 abrupt and indented at its tip ; the brain is large ; 

 the lungs voluminous ; the stomach capacious. 



The internal arrangement of the venous system is 

 very remarkable, and adapted so as to effect a sort 

 of reservoir for the blood, which naturally accumu- 

 lates in it when the circulation is impeded during 

 the suspension of breathing, as is perpetually the 

 case, as the animals are pursuing their prey beneath 

 the surface of the water. Between the skin, which 

 is very tough, and the muscles, there intervenes a 

 fibrous loose elastic tissue of a dark red tint ; indeed 

 the muscles are dark, and the blood of a blacker 

 hue than in most mammalia. From the anterior 

 part of the breastbone (sternum) a long cartilaginous 

 continuation projects forwards for the more exten- 

 sive attachment of the voluminous muscles acting 

 upon the anterior paddles. The arteries of the 

 limbs are plexiforra, as we have described them in 

 the Loris (page 47). 



The varying forms of the skulj in the Phoeidae 

 will be easily appreciated by reference to our pic- 

 torial specimens. With respect to the teeth, we 

 may describe them as prehensile ; they are not 

 formed for grinding, but for seizing the slippery 

 prey and dividing its flesh into large portions. Their 

 number is very different in the different species, nor 

 less so are the minor details of their structure. The 

 incisors are six or four above, and four or two 

 below ; the canines are large and strong ; the 

 molars are either simply conical or furnished with 

 cutting edges, and more or less deeply notched 

 with a large central point. Without entering into 

 any disquisition respecting the genera into which 

 the seals are divided, and their arrangement — a 

 point of the less importance, as our knowledge of 

 the group is at present confessedly imperfect— we 

 shall proceed at once to comment upon the speci- 

 mens before us. 



985, 986. — The Common Seal 

 (Phoca vitulina). Calocephalus vitulinus, F. Cuvier ; 

 Le Veau marin and Phoque commun of the French ; 

 Vecchio marino of the Italians: Lobo marino of 

 the Spanish; Meerwolf and Meerhund of the 

 Germans ; Zeehund of the Dutch ; Seel-hund of 

 the Danes; Sial of the Swedes; and Moelrhon of 

 the ancient British. 



For the general characters of the skull, in the 

 genus Phoca, or Calocephalus of F. Cuvier, refer- 

 ence may be made to Fig. 987, an upper view; 

 Fig. 988, an under view ; and Fig. 989, a profile of 

 the Phoca Monachus. Fig. 990 illustrates the 



Q Pj 



dentition. Molars, — -. 



The Phoca vitulina of Linnaeus has only within 

 the last few years been disengaged from con- 

 fusion ; three distinct species, according to Nilsson, 

 having been included under that denomination, 

 viz., Ph. variegata, Ph. annellata, and Ph. leporina. 

 To the first of these the term vitulina is really 

 applicable, and the term variegata, given by Nilsson, 

 must be abandoned. The common seal is found 

 along the shores of temperate Europe, and is com- 

 mon on many parts of the Scottish coast, and also 

 of those of England and Ireland. It is gregarious 

 in its habits, and haunts caverns and recesses 

 among the rocks, to which the females retire to 

 breed. The young are generally two in number, 

 and the mother nurses them with great assiduity 

 and affection, taking them out to sea very early. 

 When surprised basking on the shore, which the 

 seal often does, luxuriating in the sun, its first 

 effort is to make for the water ; but if intercepted, it 

 shows fight, and with a growl turns on its adversary, 

 who, unless he avoid the attack, is in some danger, 

 for the animal has great power and weight (often 

 two hundred and twenty-four pounds) : having over- 

 set its antagonist, it shuffles to the water, and there 

 disappears. All are familiar with Sir Walter Scott's 

 humorous narrative of Hector Mac Intyre's discom- 

 fiture by a "phoca." (' The Antiquary.') The voice 

 of the seal is a gruff grunt, not unlike that of a pig, 

 but when wounded it often utters a peculiar moan- 

 ing sound. These animals are sagacious and watch- 

 ful, and while half-slumbering on the beach their 

 customary caution seldom leaves them, for one of 

 their number is usually placed a little higher on the 



rock than the others, and he seems constantly 

 awake, and ever and anon upraises his " grim 

 feature," scenting the windward air. Flatfish, 

 especially flounders, are the favourite food of this 

 species, at least off the coast of Colonsay, where it 

 is common. In the estuary of the Tees it makes 

 great havoc among the salmon. This seal is hunted, 

 as are others also, for the sake of its skin and 

 blubber. The fishing commences in autumn, and 

 is practised by means of nets stretched across 

 narrow sounds wdiere the seals are in the habit of 

 swimming. In these nets they are entangled, but 

 it is .only the young that can be thus captured ; the 

 old ones are shot, or their recesses and caves are 

 entered at night by boatmen with torches and 

 bludgeons, upon which the animals, alarmed by the 

 glare and the shouts of the men, rush tumultuously 

 forward to the sea, and as they push along in con- 

 fusion and terror they are knocked on the head 

 with clubs, the men being duly stationed for the 

 purpose. 



The common seal can remain under water for 

 about five minutes, and swims so rapidly that, if 

 alarmed, it will proceed nearly half a mile during 

 that period. The seal is intelligent and docile, and 

 easily domesticated ; it becomes attached like a dog 

 to its master, and may be readily taught to assist in 

 fishing. Many anecdotes respecting tame seals 

 are recorded. Few animals have a finer sense of 

 hearing, and musical sounds appear to afford it 

 great delight. Laing, in his account of a voyage to 

 Spitzbergen, states that the violin, when played on 

 board the vessel, would generally draw around it a 

 numerous audience of seals, which would continue 

 to follow it for miles. Sir Walter Scott alludes to 

 the same curious fact in the following lines : — 



" Rude Ueiskar's seals tlu-ough surges dark 

 Will long pursue the minstrel's bark.' 1 



The common seal is from four to five feet in 

 length ; its colour is yellowish-grey, more or less 

 dappled and spotted with dusky-brown. 



Figs. 991 and 992 represent seal-hunting in Scot- 

 land, but the seal figured is not the common seal ; 

 it is a much larger and fiercer species, viz., the grey 

 seal, Halicheerus Gryphus (Phoca Gryphus, Fabri- 

 cius), which is also common round the Farn Islands. 

 (See Mr. Selby's observations in 'Ann. and Mag. 

 Hist. Nat.,' February, 1841, p. 462.) This 

 species has till lately been confounded with another, 

 viz., the Phoca barbata, which is rarely if ever seen 

 on our coasts. 



The grey seal is of great size, sometimes attaining 

 the length of twelve feet, and producing upwards 

 of twenty gallons of oil. It swims and dives with 

 wonderful rapidity, but from its curiosity often 

 comes within range of the rifle, for as the boats ap- 

 proach it while reposing on the rocks, or swimming 

 on the water, it raises its head and remains for 

 many minutes gazing at the objects of its attention. 

 The grey seal has but little intelligence, and cannot 

 be tamed. The young, which are produced in 

 August, grow rapidly, and are able to follow their 

 dams to the water within a fortnight after birth. 



Mr. Newman, in his interesting ' Notes on Irish 

 Natural History' ('Mag. Nat. Hist.,' December, 

 1839, p. 575), observes that "these seals are most 

 abundant all round the coast of Cunnemara, from 

 Galway to the Killery ; indeed, I imagine, on every 

 part of the coast of Ireland : they are strong, reso- 

 lute, and ferocious animals, and totally different 

 from the Phoca vitulina, which is in these respects 

 the reverse. The Halichserus Gryphus grows occa- 

 sionally to an enormous size, sometimes attaining 

 even the length of twelve feet, and Mr. Ball of 

 Dublin told me of one he had killed at Howth 

 Harbour, which he believed to weigh five hundred 

 pounds. Phoca vitulina occurs not unfrequently 

 on the north coast of Ireland, and among the Scotch 

 islands, but it appears to be nearly expelled from 

 the southern half of Ireland by the more powerful 

 and savage species above referred to." Mr. Selby 

 records one killed in the Farn Islands, weighing 

 upwards of forty-seven stone, fourteen pounds to 

 the stone. 



The Grey Seal is stated by Nilsson to be solitary 

 in the Baltic ; but such is not the case either on the 

 Farn Islands or the coast of Ireland, where it tenants 

 caves and rocks, in parties of twelve or fourteen, or 

 perhaps more. No doubt, like the Common Seal, 

 it is often seen alone. 



993.— The Harp Seal 

 (Phoca Grmnlandica). The native regions of this 

 seal are the shores of Greenland, Newfoundland, 

 Iceland, Kamtchatka, &c. It is one of the species 

 in the chace of which the Greenlander encoun- 

 ters so many perils. Crantz, in his history of 

 Greenland, states, that it is there called Attar- 

 soak. " It has a pointed head and big body, and 

 is, when full-grown, nearly three yards Jong; it 

 is then almost all of a white grey colour, and has a 

 black figure on its back like two half-moons, with 

 their horns in a uniform direction towards one ano- 



