322 Practical Game Preserving. 



The ears are short, inconspicuous, and small in the opening. 

 The mouth is situated lower than with the weasels, and is 

 comparatively small, the upper lips hanging somewhat over, 

 and being provided with long and bristling whiskers. The 

 setting of the teeth is of a kind uncommonly favourable 

 for the infliction of deep and jagged wounds, and most 

 excellently adapted to the capture of such slippery customers 

 as trout and salmon. 



The otter's fur is of very similar nature to that of 

 the polecat, being of two kinds, the one intended for 

 the actual protection of the creature's body from the effects 

 of water, which, of course, fails to penetrate it in the 

 ordinary course of things, and which lies close to the 

 skin, being a thick, soft fur, while the outer coat of the 

 two is long, coarse, and hair like intended, no doubt, for 

 aiding the animal to pass through the water with the ease 

 and comfort necessary to the excessively swift rate at 

 which it pursues its prey. The whole construction and 

 appearance of the animal, even when dead, produces an 

 impression as to its being almost litheness itself. Its 

 short and broad legs, terminated by feet webbed to a 

 certain extent, are capable of exerting a very considerable 

 amount of propelling power, and anyone who may have 

 been at any time lucky enough to have observed the 

 action of one of these supple animals gliding through 

 the water in its natural state will have seen some of the 

 most elegant actions of which any animal is capable. 

 At one time almost bounding but silently through the 

 water, before one has time to realise the fact it has 

 turned, and is proceeding at an equally astonishing rate 



