SDf C)tter'!jtmtmD:, 117 



for (he diveth and hunteth under water after that mort 

 wonderful manner, that few filh efcapeher, unkfs they 

 are very f\yift and great. 



An Otter and Ferret grow fait much about the fame 

 time, and bring forth their young much after the fame 

 manner, neither having their conliant number. 



There is much craft and cunning in the hunting 

 them \ yet with pains- taking you may enfnare them 

 under the water, and by River-fides, as you may a Hare 

 with H^re- pipes and fuch-like Gins. They bite fore 

 and venomoufly, and when occafion ferves tliey will de- 

 fend themfelves ftoutly. If after their enfnarirg they 

 chance to abide there long, they will feon enlarge them- 

 felves with their teeth. 



Thefe creatures are footed like your water-Fowl, ha- 

 ving a web between their claws, and have no heel, but 

 a round ball under the foal of their Feet : and their 

 Track is called their Mjri^, as the Slot of a Hart ■■, and 

 their Excrements are called Spraints. 



An Otter will not abide long in a place , for he is apt 

 to be afraid and take diftafie, (having an excellent Ear 

 and Nofe, for hearing and fmellingi ) and then he will 

 forfake his Couch, and (hift a mile or two up or down 

 the River: and this he will do according as he hndes 

 fcarcityoffilhing. 



In hunting of the Otter obferve this, to fend fome to 

 one fide of the River whilli you are on the other, and 

 fo beat on the banks with your Dogs, and fo you vAW 

 foon find if there be an Otter in that quarter : for an 

 Otter cannot endure long in the water, but mull come 

 forth to make his Spraints, and in the night fome- 

 times to feed on Grafs and fuch Herbs as the Helds af- 

 ford. 



If any of the Hounds find out an Otttr^ then look. 

 in the foft grounds and moilf places to fee which way 

 he bent his head ; if the marks make no difcovery, 



I 4. you 



