THE CAKXIVORA. 61 



Though a fish-eater by preference, most of its poaching 



being done at night, it is occasionally driven by the scarcity 



_ , of its favourite food to levy toll on rabbits 

 Food. ^ , 1 j^ 1 . 1 . , 



and poultry ; but such raids are comparatively 



rare, and it is in its character as fish-poacher that the 

 otter is detested. Among the other creatures on which 

 it feeds with avidity are moorhens, which it captures by 

 ambush, frogs and crayfish. Of all these it is particularly 

 fond ; and when its native stream ceases to furnish it with 

 any of these in sufficient quantity, it migrates elsewhere, 

 even finding its way down to the sea-coast, where, much 

 like the fox, it picks up a living on crabs and other 

 jetsam. I know of several caves down near the Lizard 

 where these animals have made a temporary home. In 

 one instance, several years ago, I recollect a prolonged 

 storm causing the death of one of these refugees; but 

 whether it was starved to death, or whether an unusually 

 high wave dashed it against a sharp rock, I never dis- 

 covered. At any rate, my boatman picked its emaciated 

 body up on a little beach just within the entrance, and its 

 remains were respectfully lowered in a crab-pot, where they 

 did good service for many days. 



Like so many of our wild creatures which in earlier days 

 found their proffered confidence sorely abused, the otter, 

 having grown shy, is regarded as much rarer 

 *. ^ than is really the case. Few people, compara- 

 tively speaking, unless they live beside some 

 stream, have watched this singularly beautiful creature 

 catching or devouring its prey, or, better still, gambol- 

 ling with its young. The crown of its head disappearing 

 at the apex of diverging ripples, as the w^ary creature 

 swims rapidly away to the other bank, is the utmost that 

 is vouchsafed to many a patient watcher. Nor are the 

 In captivity. opi)ortunities for studying it in captivity 

 very much better, for it is, in most zoological 

 gardens, kept in a half-starved condition, its slender dole 

 of fish being seized and devoured in hasty and unnat- 



