64 ANECDOTES OF ANIMALS. 



in the water are particularly elegant ; they swim hori- 

 zontally, and rapidly dive after their victims, which they 

 eat ashore. It is said that they will collect a number of 

 trouts into a shoal, and drive them on, till, in their dread 

 and alarm, many of the fishes will throw themselves on 

 to the land. They have the power of remaining very 

 long under water, at a considerable depth ; and the fierce 

 manner in which they keep dogs at bay, often wounding 

 them severely with their sharp bites, and the anxious 

 watching for their rise in the water when they have 

 retreated, all form a most exciting sport ; so that we 

 hear of .otter-hunting as a source of keen enjoyment ; 

 and there is one on record in which nine otters were 

 killed in one day. 



Otters will certainly consume an immense quantity 

 of fish ; and the owners of salmon or trout streams have 

 great spite against them. It is, however, very possible 

 to tame them so as to make them bring the fish which 

 they catch. This practice is much more followed in othei 

 countries than in England ; they are purposely kept for 

 it in Sweden, and at a signal from the cook will go and 

 fetch the fish for dinner. Bishop Heber mentions, that 

 he saw several large and very beautiful otters fastened to 

 bamboo stakes by the side of the Matta Colly river, some 

 of which appeared to be at play, and uttered a shrill, 

 whistling noise. They wore straw collars, and were 

 very tame and docile. They should be caught quite 

 young, and fed on small fish ; then they are allowed bread 

 and milk at alternate meals, till at last they entirely live 

 upon this food. They are taught to fetch and carry 

 with artificial fishes made of leather, and stuffed with 

 wool ; then they are made to bring dead fishes, and if 

 they attempt to tear them, they are severely punished. 



