376 CAUGHT IN THE ACT. 



constant state of alarm and agitation, Hying and swim- 

 ming hither and thither, and at times uttering piercing 

 cries, making it quite evident that, though unseen, the 

 foe was near at hand. This was more especially the cast- 

 with the young wild ducks, which would not settle down 

 to rest until they had taken refuge on the dry land. It 

 was nevertheless impossible to detect the cause of their 

 uneasiness, or the reason why they would not pass the 

 night on the water. M. Bosch attempted, ineffectually, 

 to drive them back into their proper element, but they 

 carefully avoided it, and sought shelter with the guard 

 at the gate. A little after one o'clock ;i wild duck Hew 

 up, quacking loudly, and settled again very near to 

 M. Bosch. Presently he remarked a slight streak or 

 ripple, unattended with the slightest noise, on the 

 placid surface of the lake ; and though the motion was 

 more rapid, it resembled that of a large fish progressing 

 through the water. As soon as the Duck saw the ripple 

 in question approaching, it hurriedly took wing and Hew 

 away. The ripple came nearer and nearer to M. Bosch, 

 who, armed with a trusty gun, at length levelled and 

 fired. After the shot, however, nothing was to be seen. 

 and presently the water was as still as before. M. Bosch 

 subsequently procured a boat, and ro\\ed to the spot at 

 which he had aimed, and with liis ramrod searched the 

 bottom of the pool. Presently he felt something soft, 

 and after two or three inell'ectual attempts, succeeded in 

 bringing to the surface an enormous Otter, measuring 

 four feet from head to tail, and weighing twenty-three 

 pounds, which was after\\ ards st tilled, and is now in 

 the Museum at Stuttgart. From this time forward all 

 depredations ceased among the \\ater fowl." 



In the southern parts of Scandinavia the Otter pairs 

 in February, but in the noithern in March. The period 

 of gestation with the female i> nine \\eeks. The cubs 



