198 THE COMMON OTTER. 



chiefly fed on fish, which it caught in the ponds, in 

 the gardens and grounds near the house. It was at 

 last accidently^killed by one of the maid-servants 

 striking it on the nose, with the handle of a 

 broom*. Kalm informs jp' that in America he has 

 seen Otters as tame as Dogs. These animals would 

 follow their masters wherever they went, and 

 would jump out of a boat into the water, and 

 always return to them after satisfying themselves 

 with fishf. 



When the Otter is properly trained and edu- 

 cated, he is capable of rendering essential services 

 to his master. By some perseverance in the train- 

 ing, he may be even taught to catch fish, and to 

 give them up without devouring any part of them. 



The plan of education that has been laid down 

 for this purpose, and been found to answer, is as 

 follows. 



The young Otter is, for some little while, to be 

 fed on milk or soup, and to have no animal food 

 of any kind given to it. Bread is recommended 

 as afterwards a substitute for these; and with this it 

 must have the heads of fishes. As soon as it has 

 formed an attachment to the person who feeds it, 

 which will always take place in the course of a 

 short time, its education should commence. A 



* Daniel's Rural Sports, i. p. 373. 

 t Kalm's Travels in North America, i. p. 208. 



truss 



