Otter 



a tangle of old tree trunks fallen and leaning at all angles and 

 interlaced with a thick growth of smilax and nightshade. 



It is quite possible that they had an underground passage 

 leading to a somewhat larger brook a few rods away, though I 

 saw no evidence of anything of the kind. 



It was late in the season when I found the place and the 

 young otters were well grown, and apparently spent most of 

 their time away on long tramps and fishing excursions with 

 their parents. From what I have seen of them I should say 

 that otters pair for life and that the male does his part in tak- 

 ing care of his offspring. 



The whole family keep together for the first year at least, 

 probably until the young otters find their mates and set up 

 housekeeping for themselves. They are generally gone two or 

 three weeks on their fishing excursions, following the streams 

 and sleeping in certain hiding-places that they know of beneath 

 the steep banks. They will follow in Indian file up the course 

 of little brooks until there is scarcely water enough to wet 

 their feet, and then strike across lots through the dark woods 

 by well-remembered paths that lead to the head-waters of some 

 other stream. Down this they trace their way among twisted roots 

 and alder stems, watching for trout as they go, until they reach 

 the river and swim out into the deep water, looking beneath 

 lily pads for pickerel that may be hiding there, then down 

 along the muddy bottom edges for horned-pout and eels. 



Horned-pout are favourite fish of theirs and are caught in 

 large numbers in defiance of their ugly spines; in eating them 

 the otters make an exception to their rule, and begin at the tail, 

 leaving the head and armed neck on the bank. 



Having reached the river the otters may go either up or down 

 stream, as suits them best. Inland they know there are quiet 

 ponds where they may catch perch and chub, and in the other 

 direction are thatch-fringed "eel creeks" winding through salt 

 meadows at certain seasons alive with herring and ale-wives. 



They do not occupy the entire trip in fishing, however; 

 here and there they land on grassy banks, or among the pines, 

 and romp about like puppies, rolling over and over in the grass, 

 and clawing up the turf and throwing it about. A favourite 

 pastime of theirs appears to be the pulling at the opposite 

 ends of a stick as if to see which is the stronger. But they 



