COLLECTION OF MAMMALIA. 3l"/ 



and American otters. The most remarkable is 

 the sea-otter (mUstela litstris) ; the black fur of 

 which has the eclat of velvet. The English and 

 Russians seek this animal in the northern parts 

 of the Pacific ocean, and sell its skin in China 

 and Japan. In the same and in the following 

 case are different varieties of dogs (i), and the 

 two species of European wolves. 



The fifth case contains thirteen species of 

 foxes. The black fox of North America, the blue 

 fox, and the isatiSj are most sought for their 

 fur. 



On the first shelf of the sixth case are the 

 hyaenas: one species of which (Jiycena picia) is 

 but lately known to naturalists; and travellers 

 formerly mentioned it by the name of the Hot- 

 tentot's hunting dog. 



Below the hyaenas are the seals, amphibious 

 animals, whose different species have been vul- 

 garly called sea-calf, sea-lion, sea-elephant, etc. 

 Peron has formed his genus, otarius, of that with 

 projecting ears, and which is called the sea- 

 bear (2). On the cornice of the same case is the 



(1) The most beautiful of them all was presented to the Museum by 

 Baron Laugier. 



(2) The seals are mild and sagacious animals, and attach themselves 

 to man. Fide. Peron's Voyage, vol. 11, page 32 ; and M. F. Cuvier's 

 Memoir in the Annals of the Museum, vol. xvn. 



