193 OF OTTERS IN GENERAL. 



The animals in general are solitary, and seldom 

 to be observed in greater numbers than a pair 

 together. A few of the foreign species, however, 

 congregate in immense troops or herds. 



In "Sir John Sinclair's History of Fifeshire, a Sea 

 Otter is mentioned as inhabiting the sea coasts of 

 that country*. It is described as being of much 

 larger size, and as having a rougher and more 

 shaggy coat than the Common Otter, of which, 

 probably, it is only a variety. 



The Otters, when compared with Weesels, are 

 animals of large size. There are only two known 

 species whose weight, when full grown, does not 

 exceed twenty pounds. None of them are able, 

 like the Weesels, to climb into trees; nor can any 

 of them, with a curved body, and straightened tail, 

 make the leaps which are so remarkable in those 

 active little animals. 



* Sibbatld's History of the Sheriffdoms of Fife and Kenross, 8vo. 

 p. 111. 



THE 



