69 



CHAPTEE IX. 



The Otter in Norway. Where Found. Its Description. Its Habits. 

 Its Nest. Its Offspring. Mode of Capture in Norway. Food of the 

 Otter. Bishop Heber's Description of a Tame Otter. The Otter in 

 Confinement. The Beaver in Norway. Where Found. Its Descrip- 

 tion. Its Tail. Its Habits. Eepublican Notions. Food of the 

 Beaver. Its Flesh. 



THE otter (Lutra vulgaris) is common on all the west 

 coast of Norway, and is also found on the banks of 

 large rivers and inland lakes. Pontoppidan says that 

 in his day it was as common on all fresh waters as it 

 was on the seacoast. 



Although the common otter is a marine animal, cap- 

 turing fish on the seashore, and frequently swimming 

 out to a considerable distance from the land, in search 

 of its prey, it must not be confounded with the sea- 

 otter (Enhydra), which is a different creature, and is 

 not to be found in any part of Norway. 



The otter in this country is about two feet long ; its 

 tail is long and flat, and is about thirteen to fifteen 

 inches in length. This caudal appendage is used by 

 the animal as a rudder, by which it turns itself with 

 astonishing rapidity and dexterity in the water ; it is 



