Cogswell 1949 Enhydra lutra July 17 - Just S. mouth of Malpaso Creek, on coast of Monterey Co. Calif. Came here about 5 PM with Faidlaw Williams with the express purpose of seeing Sea Otters -- and he pointed them out almost as soon as we left the cars. About 15-17 of them were resting and playing about in kelp beds beyond the offshore rocks when we arrived. When resting they lie on their backs with head and feet out of the water, but they frequently roll over slowly; one hauled himself out on mass of kelp on his belly & wriggled across it & into water again. There was much gentle diving & surfacing going on all along, but the distance too great to check on details of what they are doing. By about 5:30 several of the group had scattered out & were noted swimming along the surface, leaving a wake behind or diving under the big swells. Finally two have come in close to shore and for several minutes we have watched them lying on their backs with 1 sea urchin (so large it must be Strongylocentrotus franciscanus) resting in the middle of their belly & another held by the forepaws while they munched on it. After a few nibbles they invariably roll over, but come up again with both urchins still in place. Mr. Williams pointed out that the hind flipper is, in such cases, apparently held up