LEAVES FEOM A GAME BOOK. 43 



it; then tlie light began to fail, and the spear was 

 used. 



"With regard to otters, many of them have sea-side 

 residences as well as river ones, and in the middle of 

 the first and last quarters of the moon, when the neap 

 tides occur, their bolt-holes into the sea are left so 

 much uncovered that they have to cross a yard or two 

 of dry ground before reaching the water. On these 

 occasions it is indeed good sport to row on a fine 

 autumn day (for the otters do not come to the sea 

 much before the end of October, just as the salmon 

 begin to get out of condition) from island to island, 

 when, accompanied by a couple of wire-haired Skye 

 terriers, visits can be paid to every holt. The dogs 

 should be put into some holt well above the one 

 opening into the sea, while it is not necessary to spend 

 much time at each, for if Mr. Otter is at home the 

 dogs will tell it at once. The very moment the dogs 

 enter the holt the hunter must stand ready prepared 

 for a snap shot, and as he is rarely more than twenty 

 yards from his quarry, but very few should escape. For 



