OTTERS. 63 



obnoxious tiling from him with liis feet. After a short 

 but sharp contest, the kite fell suddenly to the earth, 

 not far from Mr. Finder. He instantly rode up to the 

 spot, when a weasel ran away from the kite, apparently 

 unhurt, leaving the bird dead, with a hole eaten through 

 the skin under the wing, and the large blood-vessels of 

 the part torn through/ 



The nest composed by weasels, in which they will 

 bring forth four or five young ones, two or three times 

 a year, is of dry leaves and herbage, is placed in a hole, 

 in a bank, a dry ditch, or a hollow tree ; and if a dog 

 come near it, the mother flies at him, and fastens on his 

 lips with great tenacity. 



OTTERS. 



TJIE much-persecuted Otter presents himself to our 

 notice among the worm-bodied, digitigrade animals. 

 Their broad webbed feet show that they frequent the 

 water ; and, in fact, they are not only found in rivers 

 and lakes of most European countries, but at sea. 

 Their elongated body is flattened horizontally; their 

 tail is broad and flat, and forms an excellent rudder 

 for their guidance when in the water. Their short legs 

 are so loosely jointed that they can be turned in any 

 direction when swimming; and their fur is soft, fine, and 

 close underneath, while a longer, coarser set of hard 

 shining hairs are on the outside. Their teeth are very 

 pointed, and well adapted to hold their slippery prey ; 

 their ears are very small, and close to their head ; and 

 they have a nictitating membrane, or third eyelid, for 

 the protection of their bright eyes. Their movements 



