OTTER.—Lutra vulgaris. 
near the water as possible, so that in case of a sudden alarm the mother Otter may plunge 
into the stream together with her young family, and find a refuge among the vegetation 
that skirts the river banks. The number of the young is from three to five, and they 
make their appearance about March or Apyil. 
Although at the present day the custom of Otter-hunting has necessarily fallen into 
disuse, it sometimes occurs that a stray Otter is discovered in some stream, and is in 
consequence the subject of continual annoyances until it fially falls under the hands of 
its persecutors. When attacked, the Otter is a fierce and desperi ite fighter, biting and 
snapping with the most deadly energy, and never yielding as long as_ life re smains 
within the body. The bite of an angry Otter is extremely severe; for the creature has a 
habit of biting most savagely, and then shaking its head violently, as if it were trying to kall 
arat. There are few dogs which can conquer an Otter in fair fight, and the combat is 
generally ended by the spear of one of the hunters. Even when transfixed with the 
deadly weapon, the Otter gives no sign of yielding, but furiously bites the staff, sullen and 
silent to the last. 
The track which the Otter makes upon the bank is easily distinguishable from that of 
any other animal, on account of the “seal,” or impression, which is made by a certain 
round ball on the sole of the foot. On account of the powerfully-scented secretion with 
which the Otter is furnished by nature, it is readily followed by dogs, who are always 
eager aiter the sport, although they may not be very willing to engage in single fight with 
so “redoubtable an opponent. An Otter has been known to turn ; savagely upon a di @ that 
was urged to attack it, to drag it into the water, and to drown it. The best dogs for the 
purpose are said to be the Otterhounds, which have already been mentioned on page 301. 
Even human foes are resisted with equal violence. On one occasion, an Otter was hard 
pressed in the water, and endeavoured to escape into an open drain, when it was prevented 
from carrying out its purpose by one of the hunters, who grasped it by the tail, and tried 
to force it into the water. The aggrieved animal twisted itself sharply round, and made 
so savage a snap at its antagonist’s hand that it severed the end of his thumb at a single 
