THE COMMON OTTER. 197 



like to all other animals. The place of this ani- 

 mal's repose was usually, in the night, a bed in one 

 of the rooms; and during the day, a heap of straw. 

 It would occasionally plunge its head and fore-feet 

 into a vessel of water ^hich stood near its bed; 

 and after shaking itself, would go out into the 

 court-yard for exercise, or to sleep in the sun- 

 shine. It seemed to have lost the natural habits of 

 its kind; since, being taken one day to a pool of 

 water, it was afraid of going into it, but only 

 wetted its head and feet, as in its chamber. When 

 it was thrown in, it instantly swam to the shore and 

 got out. 



There was, about two years ago, within a couple 

 of miles of Cupar Angus, in Forfarshire, in the pos- 

 session of a gentleman farmer, an Otter, which had 

 been in a domestic state for considerably more than 

 twelve months. This animal was as tame as a Dog, 

 and, every night, slept in a bed with one of the 

 farmer's sons. He still retained his natural love of 

 fish, and, in the day time, regularly frequented a 

 loch in the neighbourhood, for the purpose of pro- 

 curing this food; but would always come out of the 

 water, when called by any person of the family with 

 whom he lived. 



Mr. Edwards, of Little Waltham Hall, in Essex, 

 had an Otter, which on all occasions followed him 

 like a Dog; and every afternoon, when its master 

 slept in his chair, the Otter regularly stationed it- 

 self in his lap. It had milk given to it; but it 



O 3 chiefly 



