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victim ffom behind with great caution. It stretches itself at full 

 length, as when sliding, and with its short front paws paddles itself 

 slowly and stealthily along with its body perfectly motionless, no niove- 

 nie'it being perceptible but the gentle action of its short fore legs. 

 When within about eighteen inches of its unsuspecting quarry the 

 ])ursner arches >ip its back, like the bending of a bow, and with the 

 speed of an arrow darts upon its victim, seldom failing to seize and 

 secni-e it at the first iJiunge. Should it fail in the first attempt, provid- 

 ing the water is clear, the chase is continued, very generally with suc- 

 cess. Otters ai-e very destructive to fish. When abundant in a stream 

 they eat a small portion only of each one caught ; but when scarce and 

 difficult to find they usually devour the entire body. A full grown 

 otter is quite capable of catching and killing a fish twenty pounds and 

 upwards in weight, either pike, maskinonge or salmon; but 1 am 

 inclined to the belief that it prefers fish of a smaller and more man- 

 ageable size. 



Otters are extremely fond of cray-fish ; but, strange to say, they 

 nve not lovers of frogs. After frequent trials I never could induce 

 either of my pet otters to eat a frog, althougli they were by no means 

 slow at killing them. When fish was not available both of them were 

 satisfied with bread and milk, meat or potatoes. They were, also, 

 always ready for fresh fish or salt, if allowed, of any kind, raw or 

 cooked ; although they always preferred getting them living, if possible. 



In a domesticated state otters are very docile and playful animals 

 They will follow their master like dogs, literally answering to their 

 names when called. They have two notes or tones of voice, one a sort 

 of satisfied grunt, like that of a pig, the other a shrill half squeal half 

 whistle. The latter is given short and sharp and with peculiar vindio- 

 tiveness of tone when they are em-aged. They are singulaily fond of 

 playing with dogs, more especially with water spaniels, with which 

 animals they delight to frolic in the water. In common witli dows, 

 otters appear to have an intuitive knowledge or consciousness of the 

 dispositions of people who either like or dislike them, and exhibit their 

 ove or hate at first sight After a close scrutiny of a stranger, if the 

 impi-ession is favorable they act accordingly, if otherwise they display 

 their repugnance forthwith by an angry whistle, which is invariably 



