1 8 O'er Crag and Torrent 



movements, both in the water and on land, 

 are quick and silent ; they make a peculiar 

 whistling sound, which can be heard a good 

 distance. This reminds me of a much 

 respected Devonshire parson's story of an 

 old dame whose cottage was close by the 

 riverside. The good lady a spinster, by 

 the way and the otters were on such 

 amicable terms that a gallant old otter used 

 frequently on a summer evening to come 

 up quite near her, and whistle " No one 

 coming to marry me ; no one coming to 

 woo." I believe this parson in question 

 was made a rural dean. Young otters are 

 quite easily tamed, and are intensely amus- 

 ing pets ; if carefully trained and treated 

 kindly, they can be taught to catch fish for 

 their owners. In China, and I believe in 

 some parts of India, they are frequently 

 used for catching fish ; and Mr. Thompson, 

 in his work, " Indo-China and China," says : 



