THE ANGLER'S SOUVENIR. 



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stance of one which weighed forty pounds. As 

 befits an animal which lives so constantly under 

 water, it is peculiarly constructed. Its head is 

 broad and flat, and it has a broad muzzle, with 

 a thick, overhanging upper lip. Its body is long 

 and low, and much flattened horizontally. Its 

 tail is flat and broad, and acts like a rudder ; and 

 its limbs are loosely jointed, so that the otter 

 can quickly turn in any direction while it swims ; 

 and its broad feet are webbed. In general colour 

 the otter is of a rich brown, but its body is 

 covered with two distinct and very different coats 

 of fur, " the shorter being extremely fine and soft, 

 of a lightish grey colour, and brown at the tips ; 

 the longer are stiffer and thicker, very shining, 

 greyish at the base, bright rich brown at the 

 points, especially at the upper parts, and the 

 outer surface of the legs." 



So much for the outer appearance of our shy 

 and retiring friend. During the night he wanders 

 boldly about the streams and rivers, "seeking his 

 prey from God ; " in the daytime he is " at home " 

 in a deep burrow in the river's bank, in the inter- 

 stices of a crag, or mid the tangled roots of a tree, 

 whence it would be hard for spade to oust him. 

 The mouth of the burrow is as near as may be 

 to the usual level of the river, but we do not 

 think it is actually below water, as some authorities 

 assert. In this snug abode, on a couch of leaves, 

 he sleeps comfortably until the suri goes down, and 



