82 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



in the water an hundred yards from him : Gesner 

 says much further, and that his stones are good 

 against the falling sickness ; and that there is an 

 herb, benione, which, being hung in a linen-cloth 

 near a fish-pond, or any haunt that he uses, makes 

 him to avoid the place ; which proves he smells 

 both by water and land. And I can tell you there 

 is brave hunting this water-dog in Cornwall ; where 

 there have been so many that our learned Cam- 

 den says there is a river called Ottersey, which 

 was so named by reason of the abundance of otters 

 that bred and fed in it. 



And thus much for my knowledge of the otter, 

 which you may now see above water at vent, 

 and the dogs close with him ; I now see he will 

 not last long : follow, therefore, my masters, fol- 

 low, for Sweetlips was like to have him at this last 

 vent. 



Ven. Oh me, all the horse are got over the 

 river. What shall we do now? Shall we follow 

 them over the water? 



Hunt. No, sir, no, be not so eager ; stay a lit- 

 tle, and follow me, for both they and the dogs will 

 be suddenly on this side again, I warrant you ; and 

 the otter too, it may be. Now have at him with 

 Killbuck, for he vents l again. 



Ven. Marry ! so he does ; for, look ! he vents 

 in that corner. Now, now Ringwood has him ; 

 now he is gone again, and has bit the poor dog. 



1 Comes to the surface to breathe. 



