THE BOOK OF THE OTTER 



retractile claws, the marks of which are not shown 

 on the ground, except when the animal is about 

 to make a spring. Although a cat track may 

 approximate in size to that of an otter cub, the 

 latter always shows claw-marks, and partial if not 

 entire imprints of five tpes. On hard ground, 

 claw-marks will show when the impression of the 

 rest of the foot is practically invisible, so anyone 

 with a knowledge of woodcraft can hardly mistake 

 the track of a cat for that of an otter cub. In the 

 same way with the footprints of hounds, terriers, 

 or other dogs, their tracks all show the imprints of 

 four toes, plus the marks of the claws. A terrier's 

 track is far more like that of a fox than an otter, 

 while hounds leave large footprints, easy to 

 distinguish. 



We have also seen it stated that the track of an 

 otter is " recognisable by the mark of its five toes, 

 and the absence of a heel." Under certain 

 conditions this is true enough, but on favourable 

 ground the mark of the heel is plainly visible. 



In like manner an impression of the webbing is 



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