CAPTURE OF ANIMALS. 35 



THE OTTER. 



The Otter is found in nearly all parts of the world. Eleven 

 species, or at least varieties, have been noticed by naturalists. 

 These inhabit the following countries : one species each in 

 Europe, Island of Trinidad, Guiana, Brazil, Kamtschatka, 

 Java, Madagascar, Pondicherry, Cape of Good Hope ; and 

 two species in North America. The principal species on this 

 Continent, and the most important of all in the fur-trade, is 

 the Canada or American Otter, scientific name Lutra Cana- 

 derisis. The range of this Otter is from the Atlantic Ocean to 

 the Pacific, and from the Gulf of Mexico to the shores of the 

 Arctic Sea. The other North American species is the Cali- 

 fornia Otter. 



The Otter is aquatic in its habits, living in and near streams 

 and getting its living from them. In appearance the Ottef 

 resembles a magnified mink. Its fur and color are much like 

 those of the mink, and the lightening of the tints in age are 

 the same in both. Its fur is short and thick. The under-fur 

 is slightly waved and silky, and similar in texture to that of 

 the beaver, but not so long. It has a silvery white shade. 

 The color of the overlying hairs varies from a rich and glossy 

 brownish black to a dark chestnut. The under parts are lighter 

 than the upper. The Otter's ears are small and far apart ; 

 head broad and flat above ; body thick and long ; feet hard, 

 short, and webbed ; tail long, round, and toward the tip de- 

 pressed, and flat beneath. The fur on the tail is the same as 

 that on the body, but shorter. Its legs are apparently set 

 upon the sides of its body, which gives it an awkward, 

 waddling appearance when travelling on land. Otters fre- 

 quently measure three feet and a half from the nose to the 

 tip of the tail, and weigh from fifteen to twenty-five pounds. 

 They are excellent swimmers and divers, and can remain 

 a long time under water. Their activity in this element ena- 

 bles them to take fish with the greatest ease. They even 

 destroy fish in great numbers for the mere pleasure of killing 

 them, when they do not require them for food. The speckled 

 trout is their favorite game, and they frequent the clear rapid 



