172 
SEA OTTER. 
around the eye ; top of the head, dark brown ; the remainder of the body 
(above and beneath) is deep glossy brownish-black. 
There is a considerable variety of shades in different specimens, some 
being much lighter than others. The longer hairs intermixed with the fur 
are in the best skins black and shining. In some individuals the fur about 
the ears, nose, and eyes is either brown or light coloured ; the young are 
sometimes very light in colour, with white about the nose, eyes, and forehead. 
The fur of the young is not equal in fineness to that of the adult. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Adult. 
Feet. Inches. 
Length from point of nose to root of tail-, - 4 2 
“ of tail, 1 
Young, about two years old. 
Feet. Inches. 
Length from end of nose to root of tail, - - 3 
of tail, 71 
Width of head between the ears, - ... 4 
Height of ear, 3 
From elbow of fore-leg to end of nail,- - - 41 
Length of hind-foot from heel to end of nail, - 6i 
“ fore toe, \ 
“ inner hind-toe, 1 
“ outer hind-toe, 3 
Circumference of the head, behind the ears, - 101 
“ of body around the breast, - 1 5 
“ “ “ loins, - 1 10 
HABITS. 
Next to the seals the Sea Otter may be ranked as an inhabitant of the 
great deep : it is at home in the salt waves of the ocean, frequently goes 
some distance from the “ dull tame shore,” and is sometimes hunted in sail- 
boats by the men who live by catching it, even out of sight of land. 
But although capable of living almost at sea, this animal chiefly resorts 
to bays, the neighbourhood of islands near the coast, and tide-water rivers, 
where it can not only find plenty of food, but shelter or conceal itself as 
occasion requires. 
It is a timid and shy creature, much disconcerted at the approach of 
danger, and when shot at, if missed, rarely allows the gunner a second 
chance to kill it. 
