Otter Hunting 229 



ing place above the water level. A favourite spot for them is 

 a hollow willow-tree, and on one occasion the Essex Hunt had 

 the pleasure of seeing one dive from the top of one into the 

 stream below. When pursued they take to water. They can 

 stay below the surface for six to eight minutes without coming 

 up to breathe, and when they do come up it is only for an in- 

 stant when they simply poke the end of their noses carefully 

 out, hardly producing a ripple. They take a lot of finding as 

 well as a lot of hunting. Without the hounds to follow the 

 scent, as it rests above the water or floats down upon it, a kill, 

 even with spears, would be almost impossible. After hounds 

 have bolted their otter and hunted him by swimming in the 

 water, this is called hunting liis wash. 



As to their domestic relations the otter, like the domestic 

 dog, is believed to hold to the doctrine of free love, with no 

 special season for courting or bringing forth their young. 

 Madam Otter, hke the masculine members of the family, is 

 possessed "of a roving turn of mind." Her domestic duties 

 and family cares come upon her once or twice a year like 

 house-cleaning and interfere somewhat with her natural habits 

 of roaming. Twins and triplets usually come to bless this 

 domestic relation and when the stork is especially good-natured 

 and generous-minded, he leaves four, and sometimes even five, 

 httle cubs with INIadam at a time. She frets a little over this 

 enforced confinement perhaps, but she would not be happy 

 without it. The "old man," at the first signs of trouble com- 

 ing on, has an engagement in the next county. This deprives 

 him of the privilege of sitting up nights with croupy children 

 and other such domestic duties. Later on he may have a look 

 in when passing, "but if he is at all impudent and inclined to 

 boss or domineer over the children, out he goes, his hat is 

 kicked into the stream after him and the broomstick is set out- 

 side to guard the door." 



These domestic quarrels, says the huntsman of the Essex 



