134 BULLETIN NO. VTI. 



into the hollow, and soon killed the Otters, with which we 

 returned home." 



Their structure being identical, the American and European 

 Otters cannot differ in their general movements and attitudes. 

 In speaking of the conformation of the latter species, Bell 

 remarks that evidently every facility consistent with the preser- 

 vation of its structural relations with the rest of the group is 

 given to the Otter for the pursuit and capture of its proper 

 food. "It swims and dives with great readiness and with pecu- 

 liar ease and elegance of movement; and although its action 

 on land is far from being awkward and difficult, yet it is cer- 

 tainly in the water that the beautiful adaptation of its structure 

 to its habits is most strikingly exhibited. It swims in nearly 

 a horizontal position, and dives instantaneously after the fish 

 that may glide beneath it, or pursues it under water, changing 

 its course as the fish darts in various directions to escape from 

 it, and when the prey is secured, brings it on shore to its retreat 

 to feed." 



Yielding a pelt of great beauty and value, from the exqui- 

 site softness and rich warm color of the fur, as well as from 

 the size of the animal, the American Otter is systematically 

 pursued by professional trappers. I have already given some 

 figures showing the thousands annually destroyed, and will 

 condense from Mr. Gibson's work, already often quoted, the ac- 

 count of the various methods employed for every trapper has 

 his own notions and ways of doing things, and in the pursuit 

 of so valuable and so wary a creature as the Otter there is 

 room for large and varied experience. The animal seems to be 

 taken in this country usually, if not invariably, with the steel 

 trap, a special size and make of which, with two springs, goes 

 by the name of "Otter trap." Searching for a "slide," or place 

 where the animal habitually crawls from the water up the 

 bank the hunter sets the trap on the spot, a few inches under 

 water. No bait is here required; and devices are used in se- 

 curing the trap by which the animal may be led into deep 

 water when caught, or lifted upward, the design in either case 

 being to prevent the animal's escape by gnawing off the im- 

 prisoned limb. The trap may also be placed at the top of the 

 slide, two or three feet back of the slope, in a place hollowed 

 to receive it, and covered with snow. Under such circum- 

 stances, care is taken not to handle the trap' with the bare 

 hands. It is scented with various animal odors, and, to fur- 

 ther insure success, a "way" is made to the trap by means of 



