HABITS OF OTTERS. 321 



lowed the cart, with nets, spears, and other paraphernalia, and 

 an old ballad-singer appeared in the rear, who sung the praises 

 of the high-bred hounds and their worthy master.^ '^ 



The general intelligence of the Otter is of a high order, and 

 his docility is such that he may not only be thoroughly tamed, 

 but taught to work for his master. Audubon speaks of four 

 American Otters which a gentleman had tamed so completely 

 that they never failed to come like dogs when whistled for, 

 crawling slowly with apparent humility toward their master ; 

 and also gives his own experience in domesticating several 

 Otters, which became so tame that they would romp with him 

 in his study. These, he says, were taken when quite young, 

 and became as gentle as puppies in two or three days ; they 

 preferred milk and boiled corn-meal, refusing fish or meat till 

 they were several months old. On this subject I shall once 

 more quote the attractive page of Bell, and conclude this 

 lengthy compilation with some quaint and interesting para- 

 graphs respecting the use of the Otter as food ; the actual refer- 

 ence being, it will be understood, to the European species : — 



" That the Otter may not only be readily and easily tamed and 

 domesticated, but taught to catch and bring home fish for its 

 master, is a fact which is so well known, and has been so often 

 proved, that it is surprising it should not have been more fre- 

 quently acted upon. From Albertus Magnus down to the late 

 excellent Bishop Heber, instances have been continually nar- 

 rated, some of which have gone no further than the domestica- 

 tion of pet Otters, while in others the animal has been rendered 

 a useful purveyor of fish for the family table. Amongst other 

 writers who have attested similar facts, honest Izaak Walton 

 says, ' I pray, sir, save me one [young Otter], and I'll try if I can 

 make her tame, as I know an ingenious gentleman in Leicester- 

 shire, Mr. Nicholas Seagrave, has done j who hath not only made 

 her tame, but to catch fish, and do many other things of much 

 pleasure.^ Albertus Magnus, Aldrovandus, Gesner, and others^ 

 had asserted it ; yet Buffon, losing for once his accustomed 

 credulity, and running to an opposite extreme, refuses to be- 

 lieve in the susceptibility of the Otter to be brought to a state 

 of domesticity. The former of these writers states that, in 

 Sweden, Otters were kept in the houses of the great for the ex- 

 press purpose of catching fish, which they would do at a signal 

 from the cook, and bring home their provender to be dressed 

 for dinner. Numerous instances have been recorded in later 

 21 M 



