50 AMPHIBIOUS QUADRUPEDS. 



for fish requires not only assiduity but patience ; 

 however, their activity and use, when taught, 

 greatly repays the trouble of teaching ; and per- 

 haps no other animal is more beneficial to its 

 master. The usual way is, first to learn them to 

 fetch as dogs are instructed; but, as they have 

 not the same docility, so it requires more art and 

 experience to teach them. It is usually perform- 

 ed by accustoming them to take a truss stuffed 

 with wool, of the shape of a fish, and made of 

 leather, in their mouths, and to drop it at the 

 word of command ; to run after it when thrown 

 forward, and to bring it to their master. From 

 this they proceed to real fish, which are thrown 

 dead into the water, and which they are taught 

 to fetch from thence. From the dead they pro- 

 ceed to the live, until at last the animal is perfect- 

 ly instructed in the whole art of fishing. An 

 otter thus taught is a very valuable animal, and 

 will catch fish enough to sustain not only itself but 

 a whole family. I have seen one of these go to a 

 gentleman's pond at the word of command, drive 

 up the fish into a corner, and seizing upon the 

 largest of the whole, bring it off in its mouth to 

 its master. 



Otters are to be met with in most parts of the 

 world, and rather differ in size and colour from 

 each other, than in habitudes or conformation.* 

 In North America and Carolina they are usually 

 found white, inclining to yellow. The Brasilian 

 otter is much larger than ours, with a roundish 



* Ray. 



