NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



The lair of the otter is amongst the dense bushes, 

 reeds, or brushwood at the margins of the rivers, 

 ponds, &c. If the banks are rocky, it sometimes 

 takes refuge under ledges of rock, or in cavities. 

 They do not excavate holes. 



Otters are often seen in parties of from three to 

 live, and it has been assumed they associate for 

 hunting purposes. This may at times be the case, 

 but I have frequently w^atched otters, w^hile lying 

 unobserved, and aWays either saw them singly, in 

 pairs, or a pair with from two to three cubs. The 

 cubs remain with the parents till nearly adult, if 

 the locality affords sufficient sustenance for all. If 

 not, the cubs are driven off to a distance. In any 

 case, when adult, they mate and seek out a hunting- 

 ground and set up housekeeping on their own 

 account. 



Returning home late one moonlight night in 

 Natal, I surprised a pair of otters, and three half- 

 grown cubs, in a clay pit containing muddy water. 

 They were busily engaged hunting frogs (Rand), 

 and the tongueless species (Xenopus Icevis). On 

 observing me, they clambered up the rather steep 

 sides of the pit and made oft' through the grass to 

 an adjacent spruit, a distance of over a hundred 

 yards. 



In spite of the feet being nearly destitute of webs, 

 the Cape Otter is an excellent swimmer. It glides 

 silently through the water with the upper part of 

 the head visible ; occasionally the ridge of the back 



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