The Place of the Otter in Zoology. 5 



a magnificent dog Otter which weighed 341b. on 

 Salter's scales after a four hours' hunt. In 

 vouching for this weight Mr. L. Rose, the Master, 

 wrote me: ''There are several very big Otters in 

 the sea marshes. This one was lying almost on 

 the sea wall," at Kirton Sluice, near Ipswich. It 

 is undoubtedly the " record " for an Otter killed 

 by hounds. 



In practice, however. Otter-hunters are unlikely 

 to see many Otters killed which exceed 3olb. 

 in weight. In m.y own experience 291b. with a wet 

 jacket (Inverness-shire, 1903) and 261b. with a dry 

 jacket (Wiltshire, 1906) are the limits of size for 

 a dog Otter; but I have no doubt that on the sea- 

 coasts of the Western Highlands and Islands 

 Otters exceeding 341b. may still be found. 

 Roughly speaking, anything over 2olb. for a dog 

 or over 151b. for a bitch Otter is a fair specimen. 



The average age for an Otter is a more difficult 

 question to settle. There is proof that one born in 

 captivity has lived for more than ten years, and then 

 met with an accidental death. I have killed and 

 seen killed dog Otters that, judged by their 

 general appearance and by the state of their teeth, 

 compared with those of hounds and terriers — and 

 making due allowance for the fact that Otters do 

 not eat carrion^ but are cleanly and clean-feeding 

 animals, rarely, if ever, fed on sweetmeats — may 



