viii Preface. 



tion as a close and long study of the latter, and 

 considerable experience of the former, in different 

 countries and under varying conditions may have 

 enabled me to acquire. 



Thus, information as to the natural history of the 

 Otter, his place in zoological classification, distribu- 

 tion, appearance, physical peculiarities, average size 

 and weight, his habits and haunts in Great Britain 

 and Ireland, has been supplemented by practical 

 details as to the science of hunting the Otter in 

 diverse ' ' countries ' ' : from the rocky mountain 

 streams of Wales, Devonshire, and the Highlands 

 of Scotland, to the "sticky" rivers of South- 

 Eastern England. Especial attention has been paid 

 to the question of hounds and terriers for Otter- 

 hunting, to the duties of the various hunt officials, 

 and to the expense of keeping up a pack and hunt- 

 ing a country. 



Since less is known of the habits of the Otter 

 than of most other mammals in the fauna of these 

 islands : and since in Otter-hunting the Field, well 

 instructed, may take a more prominent and useful 

 part than in any other form of the chase : I hope 

 that this little volume may prove of equal interest 

 to the naturalist and to the enthusiastic follower of 

 the queen of summer sports — Otter-hunting. 



L. C. R. Cameron. 



January, 1908. 



