39 ! BRASILIAN OTTER-: 
live sea, with various diverting tricks ; at one 
time keeping themselves on end in the water, and 
jumping over the waves, holding their fore paw 
over the eyes as if to shade them from the sun while 
looking out for their enemy ; then lying flat on their 
hack, and stroking their belly ; then throwing 
their young down into the water and fetching them 
up again. In their escape they carry the suck- 
lings in their mouths, and drive before them those 
that are full grown. 
The skins of the sea otters are of great value. 
The flesh of the young ones is delicate eating. 
Brasilian otter. 
The Brasilian otter has a round head like that 
of a cat ; it has feline teeth too ; eyes small, 
round, and black ; large whiskers and round ears ; 
feet like those of a monkey, with five toes, the 
inner ones the shortest, all armed with sharp 
claws ; its tail, which is flat and naked, reaches no 
further than the feet; its hair is soft, and not 
long ; it is entirely black, except the head, which 
is dusky, and the throat, which is yellow. It is 
about the size ofn middling dog. 
It inhabits Brasil, Guiana, and the borders of 
the Oronoko. It lives on fish, and crustaceous 
animals, such as cray fish, and is very dexterous in 
robbing nets and week of what it finds in them. 
It makes a noise like a young puppy. Its flesh is 
reckoned delicate eating, and does not taste fishy, 
notwithstanding its food. They are extremely 
cleanly, live in society, and go in troops ; they are 
fierce, and make a vigorous defence against dogs ; 
but when taken young, are soon tamed. 
