. 2Df f)ttcr-f)imtutD:* 115 



their ftrongeft Holes or Caftles, and may break their 

 Cafmats, Platforms, Parapets, and work to them with 

 Mines and Counter- mines, until you have obtained 

 your fatisfaftion. But there is a (hotter method thao 

 this, which by reafon of its commonnefs 1 (hall foir 

 bear to mention. 



Of the Otter. 



IT is fuppofed by feme that the Otter is of the kindr®f 

 Beavers^ being it is an amphibious creature living 

 both in the Water and on the Land \ befides, the out-r 

 ward form of the parts beareth a fimilitudeof that bt-^afi-. 

 Some fay, were his tail off, he were in all parts like a Bcti- 

 ver^ differing in nothing but habitation : For the Biavcr 

 frequenteth both the Salt-water and the Frefli ^ but the 

 Otter never goeth to the Salt. 



Though the Otter live in the Water, yet it doth not 

 breath like Fifties through the benefit of the Water, it 

 doth breath like other four-footed beafts, yet it will re- 

 main a long time underneath the Water without refpi- 

 ration. 



If he want prey in the Waters, then will he quit 

 them for the Land j and if by painful hunting afhore 

 be cannot hll his belly, he will feed on Herbs, Snails, 

 or Frogs : neither will he take lefs pains in the water 

 to fatisiie hunger , for he will fwim two miles together 

 againfl the fiream, that fo, when his belly is full, the 

 current of the ftream may carry him down again to h^ 

 defigned Lodging, which is near the water, very zn\f» 

 cially built with boughs, fprig=;, and fticks couching to- 

 gether in excellent order, wherein he fitteth to keep 

 him from the wet. 



I 3 !r, 



