308 THE CHINESE OR INDIAN OTTER. 



tail occupies about fourteen or fifteen inches. On the average, it weighs about twenty- three 

 pounds ; but there are examples which have far surpassed that weight. Mr. Bell records an 

 instance of a gigantic Otter that was captured, which weighed forty pounds. 



ALTHOUGH so fierce and savage an animal when attacked, the Otter is singularly suscepti- 

 ble of human influence, and can be taught to catch fish for the service of its masters rather 

 than for the gratification of its own palate. The CHINESE or INDIAN OTTER affords an excel- 

 lent instance of this capability ; for in every part of India the trained Otters are almost as 

 common as our trained dogs. It seems odd that the proprietors of streams should not press 

 the Otter into their service instead of destroying it, and should not convert into a faithful 

 friend the animal which at present is considered but as a ruthless enemy. 



Even in France and England the Indian Otter has frequently been tamed and trained for 

 the purposes of sport. An English sporting man was possessed of one of these animals, which 

 had been trained with singular success. "When called, the Otter immediately answered to 

 the appropriate name of Neptune. The animal, it appeared, was caught two years ago, being 

 then only a few weeks old. It was actually suckled by a pointer, and, showing early signs of 

 docility, was made over to the gamekeeper. In process of time, the animal increased in 

 aptitude and sagacity, and was soon enabled to undertake the duty of an economical fisher- 

 man, frequently procuring a dish of excellent burn trout at such seasons when the angler's art, 

 from adverse winds or foul streams, was in vain. 



"In the morning after these fishing exploits, which sometimes occupied the greater part of 

 the night, Neptune was always found at his post, and the stranger might be astonished to see 

 him among several brace of pointers and greyhounds. No one understood better how to keep 

 at his own side of the house. In fact, according to the gamekeeper, he was ' the best cur that 

 ever ran.' 



" Neptune was an amiable creature. He would allow himself to be gently lifted by his tail, 

 but invariably objected to any interference with his snout. As an angler, his reputation is 

 advancing rapidly, and one or two of his master's neighbors used to borrow him for a day or 

 two in the spring, for the purpose of ascertaining the quality and size of the larger trout in the 

 pools on their estates." 



Another of these animals was accustomed to go to work in a very systematic manner. It 

 always plunged into the water very quietly, and, keeping close by the bank, took its course 

 up the stream, disturbing the fish by smart blows with its tail. If a fish remained by the bank, 

 the Otter passed by and did not seem to notice it, but if the fish should dart in front of its 

 pursuer, it was instantly seized and brought near the surface of the water probably in order 

 to lessen the force of its struggles. When the Otter had brought its prey to shore, it always 

 discovered some reluctance in parting with the fish which it had caught, and signified its dis- 

 approbation by a plaintive whine. 



Mr. Richardson gives a very intei^esting account of an Otter which he tamed, and which 

 was accustomed to follow him in his walks like a dog, sporting by his side with graceful play- 

 fulness, and swimming at perfect liberty in the stream. This animal, however, could never be 

 induced to yield her prey to her master, but when she saw him approaching would quickly 

 swim to the opposite bank of the river, lay down her fish, and eat it in peace. The animal was 

 accustomed to wander at her own will in the house and garden, and w y ould eat all kinds of 

 garden pests, such as snails, worms, and grubs, detaching the snails from their shells with 

 great dexterity. She would also leap upon the chairs as they stood by the windows and catch 

 and eat flies as they fluttered on the window-panes. She struck up a warm friendship with 

 an Angora cat, and on one occasion when her friend was attacked by a dog, she flew at the 

 assailant, seized him by the jaw, and was so excited that her master was obliged to separate 

 the combatants and to send the dog out of the room. 



The mode of instruction which is followed in the education of the Otter is sufficiently 

 simple. The creature is by degrees weaned from its usual fish diet, and taught to live almost 

 wholly on bread and milk ; the only fish-like article which it is permitted to see being a leathern 

 caricature of the finny race, with which the young Otter is habituated to play, as a kitten plays 



