MAMMALIA. 



high that more than half the length of their bodies showed above the 

 water. On firing at one of them all instantly disappeared; one stuck 

 his head up through a hole in the ice to take a parting peep at us, 

 and this was the last we saw of them. Otters are playful creatures 

 and when taken young are easily domesticated, and have frequently 

 been taught to catch fish for their masters. In growing old, however, 

 they are apt to become ugly, and have been known to bite those who 

 attempted to play with them. At all times and on all occasions they 

 manifest an insatiate and uncontrollable desire to break the peace 

 with any dog that chances to cross their path and woe be to the 

 unfortunate brute ! Being compactly built and possessing great 

 strength, and an immense store of endurance, they are quick in move- 

 ment and make fierce and powerful assailants. Moreover, there is 

 usually such a thick layer of fat under the skin that it slips freely upon 

 the body and renders it well-nigh impossible for a dog to secure a 

 firm hold on them. If the misunderstanding occurs in the vicinity of 

 water, as it commonly does, there is a strong tendency for the partici- 

 pants to drift nearer and nearer the shore, for thitherward the Otter 

 artfully draws his antagonist. I have never witnessed one of these 

 little altercations, but am told that a drowned clog is generally the 

 result. 



Thomas Pennant, in his " Synopsis of Quadrupeds," published in 

 1771, says (p. 239) that the Otter " hunts its prey against the stream; 

 frequents not only fresh waters, but sometimes preys in the sea; but 

 not remote from shore: is a fierce animal; its bite hard and dangerous: 

 is capable of being tamed, to follow its master like a dog, and even 

 to fish for him, and return with its prey." 



The fur of the Otter, which is more valuable than that of any other 

 of our fur bearing animals, becomes prime in November, remains 

 good throughout the winter, and is best in spring. 



Their skins were formerly much employed by the Indians as 

 material for their garments. In " Wassenaers Historic Van Eu- 

 ropa," printed at Amsterdam, 1621-32, occurs the following : "The 



