BY THE EXE. 125 



the cost of what he eats. There is a great difference 

 between keeping the number of otters down by otter- 

 hunting within reasonable limits and utterly exter- 

 minating them. Hunting the otter in Somerset is one 

 thing, exterminating them in the Thames another, and 

 I cannot but feel a sense of deep regret when I hear 

 of fresh efforts towards this end. In the home 

 counties, and, indeed, in many other counties, the list 

 of wild creatures is already short enough, and is 

 gradually decreasing, and the loss of the otter would 

 be serious. This animal is one of the few perfectly 

 wild creatures that have survived without any pro- 

 tection from the ancient forest days. Despite civiliza- 

 tion, it still ventures, occasionally, within a few miles 

 of London, and well inside that circle in which London 

 takes its pleasure. It would be imagined that its 

 occurrence so near the metropolis would be recorded 

 with pride ; instead of which, no sooner is the existence 

 of an otter suspected than gun and trap are eagerly 

 employed for its destruction. 



I cannot but think that the people of London at 

 large, if aware of these facts, would disapprove of the 

 attempt to exterminate one of the most remarkable 

 members of their fauna. They should look upon the 

 inhabitants of the river as peculiarly their own. Some 

 day, perhaps, they will take possession of the fauna and 

 flora within a certain compass of their city. Every 

 creature that could be kept alive within such a circle 

 would be a gain, especially to the Thames, that well- 

 head of the greatest city in the world. I marvel that 

 they permit the least of birds to be shot upon its banks. 

 Nothing at present is safe, not so much as a reedsparrow, 



