OTTERS. H7 



killed one. Directly it began to squeak, all the four 

 old ones turned back, and stood till the other young 

 ones had escaped through the hedge, and then went 

 quietly themselves. Several families were thus journey- 

 ing together, and probably they had left their former 

 abode from not finding a sufficiency of food.' 



The beautiful otter in the museum of the Zoological 

 Gardens is from Ireland, and is by some considered as 

 a distinct species. It is chiefly found on the coast of 

 Antrim, living in the caverns formed by the basaltic 

 columns of that shore; and as it hunts the salmon, 

 rewards are offered for its destruction. 



The flesh of all otters is extremely rank and fishy ; 

 and because it cannot be called meat, it is often allowed 

 to be eaten on the meagre days appointed by the 

 Komish Church. 



Captain Brown, in his Popular Natural History, tells 

 us of a person who kept a tame otter with his dogs, 

 which followed him in company with them. He hunted 

 fish with them, and they never would hunt any other 

 otter as long as he was with them. 



There was a tame otter in Northumberland, which 

 also followed his master wherever he went. He caught 

 his own food, and returned home when satisfied. 

 Once he refused to come to the usual call when he was 

 out, and was lost for some days. At length, going 

 back to the same place, he with great joy came creep- 

 ing to his master's feet, who was still seeking his 

 favourite, 



