140 



MAMxMALS OF AMERICA 



are made in or near the banks of a river or lake, 

 the hollows beneath the roots of trees growing 

 on the margin being special favorites, while in 

 hilly districts the clefts between rocks are selected, 

 and where the soil is of an alluvial nature deep 

 burrows, with several entrances, one of which 

 usually opens beneath the water, are excavated 

 in the banks. 



Otters apparently never hibernate, and in con- 

 sequence must be hard jiressed to supply them- 

 selves with food during the winter in the colder 

 portions of their habitat. At such times they 

 mav make occasional raids on the farmvards. 



copious under- fur is lanuginous and lustreless. 

 The sheen is only visible in its perfection when 

 the pelt is viewed with the lay of the hairs ; from 

 the other direction the color is plain. The roots 

 of the hairs, even on the darkest part of the 

 pelage, are light brown, or dingy white, but the 

 fur is so close that this does not appreciably affect 

 the rich brown tone of the surface. 



According to Richardson, one of the earliest 

 authors giving accounts of the species with pre- 

 cision, " The Canada Otter resembles the Euro- 

 pean species in its habits and food. In the winter 

 season, it frequents rapids and falls, to have the 



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S'i^ 'i^ 



By perrnr 



OTTERS 



Otters are too short of limb to move easily on land, but are wonderfuUy agile and graceful in water. 



They are also fond of sliding down mud banks 



Water-fowl are probably also attacked at such 

 periods, while eggs are always acceptable. In 

 addition to fish, Otters are fond of frogs and 

 shell-fish. 



The number of young in a litter is usually two, 

 although there may be either one or three. They 

 are born about the middle of April, and during 

 the summer and autumn the young stay with 

 their mother. 



The fur of the Otter, says Cones, is of great 

 beauty, very thick, close, short and shining. The 

 longer hairs are stout and glistenin;.; : the very 



advantage of open water ; and when its usual 

 haunts are frozen over, it will travel to a great 

 distance through the snow, in search of a rapid 

 that has resisted the severity of the weather. If 

 seen, and pursued by hunters on these journeys, 

 it will throw itself forward on its belly, and slide 

 through the snow for .several yards, leaving a 

 dee]i furrow behind it. This movement is 

 repeated with so much rapidity, that even a swift 

 runner on snov,--shoes has much trouble in over- 

 taking it. It also doubles on its track with much 

 cunning, and dives under the snow to elude its 



