THE COMMON OTTEft. 199 



truss of leather stuffed with wool, in the shape of 

 a fish, and in size proportioned to the width of the 

 animal's mouth, is then to be made; and when this 

 is used, the animal is to have round his neck a 

 collar, which will tighten at pleasure, and to which 

 is attached a cord some yards in length. The Otter 

 is first to be led gently about by means of the 

 string and collar, till it will follow its master of 

 its own accord. A word of command, as " come 

 here," is then to be adopted; and whenever this is 

 pronounced, the animal must be pulled forcibly to 

 its master, till it is obedient and comes without 

 hesitation. As soon as it is tolerably perfect in 

 this, the collar is to be turned, and tightened till 

 the Otter opens its mouth, into which the truss is 

 to be put, and the words "take it" to be loudly 

 pronounced. If it drops the truss, which will be 

 the case for several times at first, the same opera- 

 tion is to be repeated till the animal will hold it 

 at command. Then loosen the cord, that it may 

 drop the truss, pronouncing at the same time the 

 words " loose it." 



When the Otter is tolerably expert in these ma- 

 noeuvres, the truss being held with one hand near 

 the ground, (taking particular care that there is no 

 sand,) its master must draw the animal towards it 

 by the cord held in the other, at the same time 

 retreating a little with the truss. Then tightening 

 the collar, he is to say loudly, "take it;" on which 



the Otter will very soon learn to seize hold of it. 

 O 4 This 



