Other Terriers. 393 



pinned the otter by the neck, a favourite point of 

 attack of hers, as I afterwards heard from her 

 master ; but the powerful animal shook her off, and 

 seized her in turn in his terrific jaws. Vixen, 

 extricating herself from his grip, returned with fresh 

 courage to the conflict ; but, owing to the projec- 

 tion of the bank and the thick bush overhanging 



the water, R could not come to the assistance 



of his little favourite, and stood, not without some 

 misgivings as to the result, within a few paces of 

 the combatants. The battle was long doubtful, but 

 at length the otter seized Vixen by the throat, and 

 made his fangs meet in her jugular vein. The water 

 was dyed with blood. The bitch gave a short, low 

 howl of agony, and in a few minutes we saw her 

 extended on her back as if dying, and borne down 

 with the current. 



" R , forgetting the otter in his anxiety for 



his little pet, rushed into the water up to his middle, 

 and succeeded in reaching and bearing her out, 

 when he laid her on the grass and endeavoured to 

 staunch the blood with his handerchief." 



The otter ultimately escaped, the wounded terrier 

 was taken to the inn, and made as comfortable as 

 possible. "Viper lay down by Vixen, and by low 

 whines told the excess of his grief, and endeavoured 

 to lick the mortal wound. He could not be induced 



