64 COMMON BRITISH ANIMALS 



niovino- across the stream, or a cliain of babbles 

 which marks its path beneath the surface. If he is 

 very lucky he may see an otter bring a fish ashore, 

 or to some rock in midstream, and there devour a 

 hasty meal. Or, perhaps, a female otter may bring 

 her reluctant babes to the water and give them a 

 swimming lesson, and delight him with their merry 

 gambols. Such sights are, however, rare, and the 

 most we learn of the otter is by inference, and the 

 study of places and things that it has temporarily 

 vacated." 



If this is the experience of such a skilled, un- 

 tiringly patient and sympathetic naturalist as Mr. 

 Millais, we who are but feeble disciples cannot 

 wonder if we fail to catch sight of an otter, and I 

 trust therefore that I may be excused for quoting so 

 largely from the very graphic writings of such an 

 accurate observer of Nature. 



It is possible to attract the inhabitants of the otter 

 ponds at the Zoological Gardens with suitable food, 

 but those who throw buns to the polar bears and 

 biscuits to the otters can hardly expect to have many 

 of Nature's secrets revealed to them. A piece of 

 fish, a few shrimps or a snail may induce them to 

 show themselves to you. 



Many otters have been, and are still, tamed and 

 kept as pets, becoming very docile and much attached 

 to their masters, suffering to be lifted by their tails, 

 but snapping fiercely if stroked on the nose or head. 

 It is a common practice to train otters to catch fish in 

 China and North India, and there are a few instances 

 of their having been so trained in this country. 



