46 FIELD-NOTES FOR THE YEAR. CH. XXIII. 



of my acquaintance happened to find a couple of 

 young otters in a hollow bank, and having made 

 prisoners of them, was carrying them home in tri- 

 umph in his plaid. The old otter, however, attracted 

 by their cries, left the river, and so determinedly 

 opposed his carrying them away, by placing herself 

 directly in his path, and blowing and hissing like a 

 cat at him, with tail and bristles erect, that the man, 

 although as stout a fellow as ever trod on heather, 

 was glad to give up one of the young ones, and 

 make his escape with the other while the mother 

 was occupied in assuring herself of the safe con- 

 dition of the one she had rescued. 



When caught young no animal is more easily 

 tamed than the otter; and it will soon learn to 

 fish for its master. In educating all wild animals, 

 however, it is absolutely necessary that the pupil 

 should live almost constantly with its teacher, so 

 as to become perfectly familiarised with his voice 

 and presence. 



Even when young the otter is a most powerful 

 and severe biter, closing its jaws with the strength 

 of a vice on whatever it seizes. Every courageous 

 dog who has once battled with an otter, retains ever 

 afterwards the most eager and violent animosity 

 against the animal. The scent of an otter renders 

 my otherwise most tractable retriever quite uncon- 



