THE SEA-OTTER 
275 
upper and under sides, except on five round, naked 
spots, about J inch in diameter, on the parts corre¬ 
sponding to the balls at the ends of the fingers. The 
skin on these spots is black and granulated like that 
on the palms of the fore-paws. 
The otter is very handy with its fore-paws, using 
them almost like hands in nursing its young, in 
obtaining and in holding its food while devouring it, 
in playing with its young or companions by boxing 
with them like cats at play, and in other ways. 
The use, however, of the hind-limbs is very limited, 
the toes appear to lack all muscular power, and 
the otter cannot place its hind-feet flat upon the 
ground; when it attempts to walk, the toes are 
doubled back under the soles. In climbing on to a 
rock or the beach, the otter, when undisturbed, moves 
its feet alternately; but when attempting to move 
quickly it draws both its hind-limbs up under its 
body simultaneously, and proceeds by a series of 
quick jumps, and gets over the ground at a good 
pace, usually, however, damaging its flippers in the 
process. 
I once surprised and cornered a “ pod ” of otters 
hauled up on a rocky ledge on the island of 
Shiashikotan. On that occasion nine were secured, 
and I had an excellent opportunity of observing their 
movements. The flippers of all were bleeding from 
abrasions caused by their jumping about on the 
rocks, and I am satisfied that the sea-otter never 
travels voluntarily any distance on shore, but con¬ 
tents itself with hauling out and remaining close to 
the water. 
The longer hind-limbs and the doubling back of 
the toes under the soles of these have the effect of 
