GIBB ON THE MUSTELTD.E OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 831 



much lighter tint, and one individual taken in the Whiteadder, a tributary 

 of the Tweed, was covered with small white spots or ticks from the head 

 to the tail, while the usual cream colour of the muzzle extended to the 

 under jaw and upper portions of the throat, imparting a strange but 

 pleasing effect to the animal. This individual is now, or recently was, in 

 the possession of Mr. Davison, of North Shields. 



The female produces three or four young in the spring of the year — 

 generally in March, and proves herself a most faithful guardian of her 

 offspring, tending them with zealous care, until they are old enough to 

 "go out into the world on their own account." I have seen her jeopardize 

 her own life in her anxiety and maternal care for her progeny ; in fact, 

 under no circumstances, can she be induced to abandon them in times of 

 danger, and she will resort to various ingenious stratagems for their better 

 security and defence. The otter is emphatically a playful animal, and 

 often indulges in his moments of hilarity in mock aquatic combats, than 

 to witness which I really know of nothing in animal exploits more pleasing 

 and thrilling to behold. If you will follow me in imagination on a quiet 

 evening in spring, to the brink of a gurgling stream, whose pellucid waters 

 dance merrily over grey and moss covered rocks, I will introduce you to 

 such a scene — in a niche formed of overhanging branches, we are ensconced 

 and completely hidden from view, but with a clear and uninterrupted look 

 out both up and down the river — as we sit expectant watchers of the scene 

 a modest little Sturnus cinclus alights close to us. His clear white breast 

 and dark back contrast pleasingly with the surrounding foliage. At once 

 securely perched, he raises his head and i)ours out a song which sounds 

 so sweetly to the ear, that Orpheus himself methinks would lay aside his 

 lute to listen it. It is his love ditty, and while we are yet ravished with 

 the simple amatory strains, his mate joins him, together they flirt from 

 stone to stone, anon she dips into the water, and is followed by her swain, 

 and when next they appear, they are far down the stream fluttering to and 

 fro on its surface. On the opposite bank of the river is a covert of long 

 dry grass, and as we look intently into the entangled mass, we see a 

 bright red spot. It is the flesh-like covering on the forehead of a 

 GaiUnula cJiloropiis, slyly he peers abroad and being assured that no danger 

 is near, shoots out iuto the current and busies himself in snatching up 

 the insects that float past him, or in tearing ofl' the moUusca adhering to 

 the submerged stones. And now a dark shadow flits through the trees 

 overhead and as we look upward to define the cause we behold an 



