MAMMALS OF PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW JERSEY. l6l 



at that time to the full extent observed by the workmen. It is possible the 

 large amount of soil thrown out of the excavation by the otters was the ulti- 

 mate cause of the obstruction of the creek and its final abandonment of that 

 channel for the one now occupied on the opposite side of the marsh. At 

 present no sign of an outlet to the burrow occurs at the foot of the bank, but 

 directly opposite, at the bottom of the present stream, eight feet below the 

 surface and seventy-five yards (estimated) from the clay bluff, lies the prob- 

 able entrance to the burrow. My informant stated that this opening con- 

 nected with it by a subterranean passage, so deep below the surface of the 

 marsh that he had not been able to find any other inlet to it. To reach the 

 bank, the otters simply dove to the creek bottom, and swam to it by their 

 underground water-way, in the most perfect security. 



"The character of the soil in this spot and the great depth of the clay is 

 exceptionally favorable to the construction of such a refuge, and the steep, 

 slippery face of the bluff would afford an ideal sliding-place for the sportive 

 companies that must have formerly made this spot their rendezvous. A well- 

 defined furrow down the steepest face of the bank still indicates the probable 

 track of their coasting parties. 



" On searching through the literature relating to the otter, it is apparent 

 that no American author ascribes to this species unusual abiHties in the con- 

 struction of its home. Indeed, Dr. Coues concludes that ' its fossorial ability 

 and the general intelligence it displays in the construction of its retreats have 

 been greatly exaggerated by some writers.'* Dr. Merriam, in his 'Mammals 

 of the Adirondacks ' (page 91), says: 'The nest of the otter is generally 

 placed under some shelving bank or uprooted tree.' In 'Godman's Natural 

 History' (vol. i, p. 224), wfe have a more explicit account, in which he states 

 that the burrow is extensive, built in the bank of a stream or river, its entrance 

 being under water, and the terminus being an air-hole opening in the midst 

 of a bush or other place of concealment. Pennant says very much the same 

 thing, but it is quite probable that some of these authors do not speak from 

 actual experience. Dr. Coues admits that he has never seen the animal in 

 its native state, and concludes from 'the shape of the fore limbs and condi- 

 tion of the claws . . . that the mining operations of the animal are neces- 

 sarily limited,' and adds : 'It does not appear that the underground retreats 

 of the otter are constructed with the skill and ingenuity of even those of the 

 muskrat.' 



"That so little should be known of these retreats hitherto is easily under- 

 stood, when we consider the nature of the one unearthed on Pensaukin 

 Creek. Only by a most unusual combination of circumstances was such a 

 discovery made possible, and it was probably due to similar chance that the 



♦North American Mustelidae, p. 316. 



