270 THE OTTER. 



leaving the remainder ; thus killing many more than are 

 necessary for its sustenance. 



Rapine and spoil 



Haunt e'en the lowest deeps : seas have their sharks ; 

 Rivers and ponds inclose the rav'nous pike ; 

 He, in his turn, becomes a prey on him 

 Th' amphibious otter feasts .... 



nor spears 



That bristle on his back, defend the perch 

 From his wide greedy jaws ; nor burnish'd mail 

 The yellow carp ; nor all his arts can save 

 Th' insinuating eel, that hides his head 

 Beneath the slimy mud ; nor yet escapes 

 -The crimson-spotted trout, the river's pride, 

 And beauty of the stream. 



It is found in all parts of Europe, and in the north of 

 Asia, and in North America. It averages about two feet 

 in the length of its body, and the tail is about sixteen 

 inches. It is said that, when the waters are frozen, it at- 

 tacks and devours smaller quadrupeds. It is very fierce, 

 and, when hunted, will often turn on the dogs, and bitm 

 them severely. Notwithstanding the natural ferocity of it 

 character, which, however, is principally directed against 

 fish, there are many instances of its having been tamed, 

 and rendered of considerable service in fishing. BufFon, 

 in his original edition, expressed his doubts of this,' though, 

 in the supplement, he retracted them. 



It is not properly amphibious, or capable of living either 

 on land or in the water. It is true that it is an excellent 

 diver, and can remain a considerable time under water ; 

 but it has been known to have been drowned when en- 

 tangled among weeds in the pursuit of fish. 



