Flesh-Eating Land Mammals 



On the other hand, this creature does not confine its 

 menu to fish, but will devour eels, frogs, water-voles, 

 and even a stray duckling or a moor-hen. Eels and 

 frogs are inveterate enemies of fish spawn, and as the 

 Otter kills the former, it stands to reason that the fish- 

 beds are thereby benefited. Then, again, crayfish 

 feed largely upon the larvae of Ephemera and similar 

 immature developments that go to form fish-food. 

 Crayfish will be found part of the Otter's food, and in 

 devouring these the animal may, in this respect, be 

 written down as a " paying guest." Vast numbers or 

 coarse fish fall a prey to Otters throughout the season, 

 and this aspect of the question may be looked upon 

 as a special service to all angling streams that Otters 

 frequent. While granting that Otters by nature do 

 harm, it has to be acknowledged that the weeding out 

 of the smaller and weaker specimens of aquatic life 

 must improve the angling resources of a sheet of water. 

 This quadruped is native to our isles. Its nocturnal 

 habits naturally account for its being seldom observed 

 unless by those favourably situated. The "spur" of 

 an Otter is quite easily distinguished by the side of a 

 stream or pond. The " spur " is the impress of the 

 foot, and this has five rounded and well-defined toes, 

 which, on a soft, muddy bank, is readily detected. 

 The Otter is fond of traversing the land, and on 

 issuing from his subterranean quarters he usually 

 pushes through the herbage before taking to the 

 water in quest of prey. As a rule, Otters have 



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