COMMON OTTEK. 179 



along the coast of the county of Antrim, living in hol- 

 lows and caverns formed by the scattered masses of the 

 basaltic columns of that coast, and constantly betaking 

 itself to the sea when alarmed or hunted. It feeds 

 chiefly on the salmon ; and as it is consequently injurious 

 to the fishery, a premium is paid for its destruction, and 

 there are many persons who make a profession of hunting 

 it, earning a livelihood by the reward paid for it, and 

 by disposing of its skin." Mr. Ogilby had not had an 

 opportunity of comparing it minutely with the Common 

 Otter, or of examining its osteology ; until this had been 

 done, it was premature to admit it as a distinct species ; 

 and we may be allowed to add, that in the stuffed speci- 

 men above mentioned, we have not found characters 

 sufficiently distinct to lead to the belief that it is more 

 than a very dark and handsome variety of the common 

 species ; and in this opinion of its identity with the 

 common species, we are supported by that of Prof. 

 Blasius. The Otters of Zetland are equally marine in 

 their habits, and judging from two beautiful skins pre- 

 sented by John Bruce, Esq., of Sumburgh, they are 

 almost as dark-coloured : these skins are evidently larger 

 than those usually found in England, and the fur is 

 nearly as fine as those imported from America. The 

 size of the Otter varies considerably even in England. 

 The usual weight of a fine male is from twenty to twenty- 

 four pounds ; that of the female, about four pounds less ; 

 but Pennant records one which was found in the year 

 1794 in the river Lea, between Hertford and Ware, the 

 weight of which was forty pounds. The Otter has been 

 met with in China, in the Amoor River, and given in the 

 work which we have before quoted by Dr. Leopold Von 

 Schrenck, on the Mammalia of that district, together 

 with another species, the Lutra aterrima of Pallas. 



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