Otter 
a tangle of old tree trunks fallen and leaning at all angles and 
interlaced with a thick growth of smilax and nightshade. 
It is quite possible that they had an underground passage 
leading to a somewhat larger brook a few rods away, though I 
saw no evidence of anything of the kind. 
It was late in the season when | found the place and the 
young otters were well grown, and apparently spent most of 
their time away on long tramps and fishing excursions with 
their parents. From what I have seen of them I should say 
that otters pair for life and that the male does his part in tak- 
ing care of his offspring. 
The whole family keep together for the first year at least, 
probably until the young otters find their mates and set up 
housekeeping for themselves. They are generally gone two or 
three weeks on their fishing excursions, following the streams 
and sleeping in certain hiding-places that they know of beneath 
the steep banks. They will follow in Indian file up the course 
of little brooks until there is scarcely water enough to wet 
their feet, and then strike across lots through the dark woods 
by well-remembered paths that lead to the head-waters of some 
other stream. Down this they trace their way among twisted roots 
and alder stems, watching for trout as they go, until they reach 
the river and swim out into the deep water, looking beneath 
lily pads for pickerel that may be hiding there, then down 
along the muddy bottom edges for horned-pout and eels. 
Horned-pout are favourite fish of theirs and are caught in 
large numbers in defiance of their ugly spines; in eating them 
the otters make an exception to their rule, and begin at the tail, 
leaving the head and armed neck on the bank. 
Having reached the river the otters may go either up or down 
stream, as suits them best. Inland they know there are quiet 
ponds where they may catch perch and chub, and in the other 
direction are thatch-fringed ‘‘eel creeks’ winding through salt 
meadows at certain seasons alive with herring and ale-wives. 
They do not occupy the entire trip in fishing, however; 
here and there they land on grassy banks, or among the pines, 
and romp about like puppies, rolling over and over in the grass, 
and clawing up the turf and throwing it about. A _ favourite 
pastime of theirs appears to be the pulling at the opposite 
ends of a stick as if to see which is the stronger. But they 
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