128 CATALOGUE OF THE MAMMALIA OF 
the mines in the west, which not only destroys their food, but 
must be otherwise at variance with their habits. 
Similar circumstances may explain why otters are so seldom 
found, or noticed in the South Tyne, while its sister of the North 
is so prolific of that animal. 
Several localities in Northumberland have at different periods 
encouraged the sport of otter hunting. Thus, about the year 
1828, Walter Trevelyan (of Newcastle), Esq., kept a small 
pack, but not persevering long, he met with very indifferent 
success. Of later years, Hexham, Bellingham, Morpeth, and 
Wooler have each conduced to the sport. The followers of the 
hunt at the two former places captured several otters in the 
higher parts of North Tyne, where the favourable circumstances 
of low waters, knowledge of the river, and the matured expe- 
rience of “Tom of the Mill” at Reedsmouth were great acces- 
sories to success. The Wansbeck is not a river favourable for 
otter hunting, for although it generally contains game, the 
rocky nature of the river in some parts, and the numerous and 
extensive drains at the high part of the water, preclude the 
probability of a find in favourable ground. Some parts of the 
Coquet, such as Brinkburn and Harbottle, offer very fine hunting 
grounds. Mr. John Thompson, of Wooler, kept a small estab- 
lishment for three or four years. It comprised hounds mainly 
from the kennel of John Gallon, then of St. Andrew’s Auckland. 
The river Till and its tributaries are very favourable for otter 
hunting, except the lower parts of the river below the junction 
of the Glen; and below and about Ford, although game is 
abundant, it is very difficult and precarious ground. While Mr. 
Thompson kept hounds he was fairly successful, so far as his 
account of killed was a criterion; but this result was, with few 
exceptions, obtained through the unwarrantable use of the spear, 
and sometimes with the aid of other and more explosive weapons. 
The rivers Pont, Blyth, and Aln are, for the most part, not 
favourable for otter hunting, being too still, banky, and reachy, 
and wanting those intervals of stream which afford such an 
agreeable variety to an otter hunt. 
The only otter hounds which claim any system of organiza- 
