OTTER. 139 



grassy-edged, and semi-concealed doorway in the face of the 

 peat slope." 



In the month of March or April, the female gives birth in the 

 lair — whether this be a burrow as above described, or merely a 

 hollow beneath the roots of some large tree, or a fissure among 

 rocks — to from three to five young ones, after a gestation of 

 only nine weeks. The young remain with their parents for a 

 considerable period ; and, in India at least, family-parties of 

 six or seven nearly full-grown individuals may be seen to- 

 gether, these sometimes contriving to drive a shoal of fish into 

 shallow water, where they may be easily captured. Although 

 in this country mainly nocturnal in its habits, in less frequented 

 regions the Otter may often be seen abroad well on in the day- 

 time. Everywhere these animals kill far more prey than they 

 can possibly eat, which is one of the reasons why their presence 

 in a river is so cordially detested by fishermen. 



When taken young, the Otter may be easily tamed, and may 

 be trained without much difficulty to exercise its fish-catching 

 skill for its owner's benefit. 



Otter-hunting, either with Otter-hounds or Fox-hounds, is a 

 favourite sport in Devon and Somerset, in the Lake district, and 

 also in Wales. The hounds should be laid on the trail, or 

 " foil," of the Otter as soon as possible after daybreak, since 

 on many soils the scent soon disappears under a strong sun. 

 Formerly the Otter was struck at on every possible opportunity 

 with a barbed spear termed an " Otter-grains," until finally 

 despatched; but the use of this weapon has happily been dis- 

 continued in the Lake district, as we learn from the Rev. H. 

 A. Macpherson, and elsewhere. 



Although from its comparatively small numbers the Otter is 

 not much hunted in this country for the sake of its beautiful 

 pelage, on the Continent this forms an important trade. 

 According to Mr. Poland, Scandinavian skins, from their large 



