THE BOOK OF THE OTTER 



creatures, in order to enable them to lead an 

 aquatic existence. The reason for this intensive 

 development of their swimming powers by 

 certain animals probably lies in the fact that 

 aquatic life opened a wider and safer field for 

 them, both in the matter of food supplies and 

 protection from their natural enemies. 



The otter family is widely distributed over 

 the globe, so before entering upon a detailed 

 description of our British otter, it may be of interest 

 to glance at other species inhabiting foreign 

 countries. The typical otters are marine as well 

 as aquatic in their habits, many of them visiting the 

 sea, where they live in the caves and other retreats 

 along the coast. There is one of the family, 

 however, i.e., the sea-otter, which is entirely 

 marine. The skin of this otter has always been 

 keenly sought for by fur-traders and trappers, and 

 it is owing to constant harassing by such people 

 that the sea-otter is now all but extinct. This 

 otter differs in many ways from its aquatic relations. 

 It possesses large flipper-like hind feet, a short tail, 



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