THE OTTER. 67 



poses of fishing, are always apt to take the first opportu- 

 nity of escaping. But the young ones may be more easily 

 taken, and converted to very useful purposes. The otter 

 brings forth its young generally under the hollow banks, 

 upon a bed of rushes, flags, or such weeds as the place 

 affords it in the greatest quantities. I see in the British 

 Zoolgoy a description of its habitation, where that natu- 

 ralist observes, "that it burrows under ground, on the 

 banks of some river or lake, and always makes the en- 

 trance of its hole under water, then works up the surface 

 of the earth, and there makes a minute orifice for the ad- 

 mission of air, and this little air-hole is often found in the 

 middle of some thicket." In some places this may be 

 true, but I have never observed any such contrivance ; the 

 retreat, indeed, was always at the edge of the water, but 

 it was only sheltered by the impending bank ; and the 

 utter itself seemed to have but a small share in its forma- 

 tion. But be this as it may, the young ones are always 

 found at the edge of the water; and, if under the protec- 

 tion of their dam, she teaches them instantly to plunge, 

 like herself, into the deep, and escape among the rushes 

 or weeds that fringe the stream. At such times, therefore, 

 it is very difficult to take them ; for, though never so young, 

 they swim with great rapidity, and in such a manner that 

 no part of them is seen above water, except the tip of the 

 nose. It is only when the dam is absent that they can be 

 taken; and, in some places, there are dogs purposely 

 trained for discovering their retreats. Whenever the dog 

 comes to the place, he soon, by his barking, shows that the 

 otter is there ; which, if there be an old one, instantly 

 plunges into the water, and the young all follow. But, if 

 the old one be absent, they continue terrified, and will not 

 venture forth but under her guidance and protection, tn 

 this manner they are secured, and taken'home alive, where 

 they are carefully fed with small fish and water. In pro- 

 portion, however, as they gather strength, they have milk 



