The Field-Master and the Field. 131 



signs of his proximity. He will put his head up 

 quietly, shake the water from his ears and whiskers, 

 take a quiet look round for his enemies the hounds, 

 and dive again, often showing a considerable portion 

 of his back and making quite a splash in disappear- 

 ing. Here you must be careful not to mistake a 

 water-vole or a wild duck or a moorhen for Ziitra 

 vulgaris. After he has taken breath in this way he 

 swims very quickly, and shows himself after the 

 lapse of a minute or two a long distance from 

 where he was last seen. Because you hear a 

 '■'■ tally " out of sight up-stream do not, however, 

 take your eyes off the water. Very probably he 

 will next show himself close to you, and that in, 

 seemingly, an impossibly brief space of time. 



When an Otter has not been "• tallied " for some 

 while and hounds are silent, it is time to look at all 

 the likely places below or behind which he may be 

 taking his breath. Examine the adjacent rocks 

 where they crop out of the water; peer under the 

 bank in your vicinity and gently move the dead 

 brushwood and flood-rubbish with the end of your 

 pole. You may espy a small motionless object which 

 imagination leads you to think looks like the top of 

 an Otter's head, with two beady black eyes fixed on 

 you. Unless you are close enough to be absolutely 

 sure, or the possible head moves distinctly, do not 

 be in a hurry to shout. Move gently towards it, 



K 2 



