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OF OTTERS IN GENERAL. 



NINE species of Otters have been discovered in 

 different parts of the world,, but of these only three 

 are known in Europe; and but one, the common 

 Otter, has been found in the British dominions. 

 The rest are confined entirely to the lakes and large 

 rivers of the new continent. 



In a wild state they are,, in general, fierce and 

 untractable animals. They live, for the most part, on 

 fish ; but many of the species will feed even on car- 

 rion, when fish is not easily to be procured. Some 

 of them also devour frogs and other reptiles. 



They all swim with great ease and readiness, both 

 on the surface of the water and below it. None of 

 them, however, are able to continue immersed 

 for a long time together, without putting their 

 noses above the surface, to expel the foul air from 

 their lungs and take in a fresh supply. As, there- 

 fore, the Otters do not, strictly speaking, live in 

 the water, but only frequent it occasionally for the 

 purpose of procuring food, none of the species 

 can properly be denominated amphibious. In fact, 

 they all live on land, having burrows, or dens, in the 

 banks of lakes or rivers, (out of the reach of the 

 water,) in which the females produce and nourish 

 heir offspring. 



The 



