JACKALS, ETC. 283 



turning over to dive into the depths below, are 

 delightful; and the way in which they can make 

 head against the violent currents of a flooded stream 

 and ebbing tide is quite wonderful. When not at 

 work they lie about tethered up in the boats, 

 spending most of their time in sleep, but occasionally 

 rousing up to wrangle and play with one another 

 and wail aloud for food. Otters seem always to 

 be in a state of ravenous hunger. Those which 

 were kept in the Zoological Garden at Alipur were 

 regularly and abundantly supplied with stores of 

 fish, but in spite of this, they always seemed to be 

 in a perfect frenzy of starvation, and ravenously 

 devoured all the very miscellaneous food that was 

 offered by compassionate visitors in the vain attempt 

 to still their clamour. They are ordinarily reputed 

 to make very charming and affectionate pets, but 

 one would certainly desire to be very certain of the 

 temper of any pets who are in a ceaseless state of 

 nervous excitement and are provided with jaws like 

 steel traps. 



