The Otter 



their homes in holes under the stream's banks, and 

 a very favourite place is just under a tree-root, 

 where the animal can enter deep down in the 

 water. Once the Otter gets on land, it shakes the 

 water off its coat in dog fashion, and for the time 

 being is a land animal. Though the fact is not 

 generally understood, the Otter will live and bring up 

 its family quite apart from the water. A reedy or 

 ferny bed will answer this purpose, provided its home 

 is not adjacent to danger. The young, in learning to 

 swim, practise a good deal before they actually become 

 expert divers and swimmers. Once, however, the 

 animal attains proficiency in the art, it can execute 

 almost lightning evolutions, and catch the swiftest fish 

 in the stream. It is a very graceful swimmer when 

 undisturbed. When swimming upon the surface it 

 uses its fore-paws, merely dragging the hind-legs, and 

 working its tail in rudder fashion. The animal can, 

 and does, remain a considerable time under water when 

 pursued. 



As a rule, the Otter's menu consists of fish which it 

 catches by its own dexterity. Occasionally two or 

 three Otters may be seen fishing together, but this is 

 not, as some suppose, by concerted arrangement. It 

 simply means there are fish about a given place, and 

 that such environments have for the time become 

 attractive to the animals. 



Looking back almost forty years, I can remember 

 the two first Otters I captured. One evening I was 



43 



