The Canada Otter 827 



siders that there is no creature so quick in the water as an 

 Otter, except, perhaps, a loon. He tells me further that on 

 September 17, he saw a young one and its mother capture a 

 large speckled trout each, in Magnisipi River, Quebec, and, like 

 all who have seen the Otter afloat, he gives enthusiastic ex- 

 pression to his admiration of its powers. It darts and turns, 

 diving or floating, with speed that none of the river tribes can 

 excel. Not only the glancing trout, but also the lightning 

 swift salmon, are at its mercy. These it meets fairly and 

 squarely in their chosen grounds, the clearest, coolest swirls 

 and deeps, or the open flood, and, rejoicing in a worthy foe, 

 it beats them at their own game, and glories, we have excellent 

 reason for believing, not less in the noble catch than in the 

 noble sport. 



As well as quick, it is long-winded. A tame one belong- 

 ing to "Antler" could remain under water for three or four 

 minutes." Merriam says'^ that in this respect its abilities 

 almost equal those of a loon, and he has known an Otter to 

 swim nearly a quarter of a mile without showing its head 

 above the surface. 



With such aquatic powers at command and with a keen 

 sense of locality, it is easy to believe these hunters who maintain 

 that the Otter can live for days under the ice of a lake, getting 

 its breath at the cracks along shore. 



On the land, though less at home, it is far from being run- 



MTVP 



helpless. All the records show that in snow time it travels 

 great distances across country, and can go so fast that it takes 

 a swift-footed man to overtake it. 



The marvellous power of this species to propel itself on 

 toboggan wise over the snow is something that I was deeply ^^°^^ 

 impressed with when a child, in Toronto, about 1873. 



A citizen had a tame Otter that I was privileged to watch 

 once or twice. I thought it the most beautiful creature I had 

 ever seen, as it gambolled and dodged about the room in a 

 spirit of good-natured frolic. It was entirely without the 

 sullen ferocity of the Weasels, and when it was allowed to go 



" Forest and Stream, December ii, 1879. " Mam. Adir., 1884, p. 87. 



