134 WILD BEASTS OF THE WORLD 



they left her a fine fish which she thought " was none the worse for 

 the bit the poor beasts had taken for themselves." In spite of its 

 special adaptation for an aquatic life, the Otter does not confine itself 

 to a fish diet ; it also feeds on Frogs and on waterfowl, especially Moor- 

 hens and Dabchicks, while its character is not above suspicion in the 

 matter of poultry and Rabbits. 



Either in search of such prey, or in shifting its quarters, the Otter 

 travels about a good deal on land, where it moves actively in a sort 

 of jumping gallop ; it is a great wanderer, seldom staying long in one 

 locality, and thus it is that it is sometimes found in most unlikely 

 places. Sometimes, too, it lies up in a hedge or other covert away 

 from the water, but more often its den or " holt " is in some hole 

 quite close to the water-side. 



Here the female deposits her cubs, which may be born at any time 

 of the year, and may number as many as six. She is a fond mother, 

 and takes great care of her young; their first education seems to be 

 in catching Frogs in the meadows, for they do not take to the water 

 at once. Otters are playful creatures, and spend much time in aquatic 

 gymnastics, even when adult. Their note is a sort of whistle, but 

 they also utter a harsh yelping mew. 



Otter-hunting, as it is carried on in summer, and on foot, has 

 attractions of its own, and the practice undoubtedly makes for the 

 preservation of this interesting creature, though, even if the pursuit of 

 the Otter were not followed, it does not do enough harm to justify very 

 rigorous measures against it. The fur it furnishes is a good one, and 

 the flesh has been used for food ; it is said to be permitted to be 

 eaten as fish by the Roman Church. 



The hound proper for the chase of the Otter is rather smaller than 

 the Fox-hound, and rough-coated ; it is very mellow-voiced, but savage 

 in temper. Fox-hounds will also hunt the Otter well, and are often 

 used for the purpose. The barbarous custom of spearing the poor 

 brute when hunted down has now long been obsolete, fortunately, and 

 the only interference permitted is the "tailing" of the Otter under 

 certain circumstances, or the lifting of it with the leaping-pole carried 



