94 



MITSTBLID* MAMMALIA. MUSTELHXE. 



balls the smooth, close, glossy fur the broad rudder- 

 forming tail and the short, web-footed, fin-like limbs, 

 all combine to show its singular adaptiveness to the 

 fluviatile and lacustrine haunts, where in ceaseless 

 activity it despoils the waters of their abounding 

 piscine treasures ! Noiselessly it glides through the 

 liquid medium, rivalling, surpassing, and overcoming 

 the finny tribes ; and one by one the latter fall victims 

 to his trenchant grasp ! In succession each captive is 

 hurried to the bank, forthwith torn asunder, and the 

 head severed in a moment's time ! All this is common 

 testimony which none will dispute. The common otter 

 is, indeed, extremely voracious, and will destroy an 

 incredible quantity of fish ; for, when the latter are 

 abundant, he has no sooner detached and devoured the 

 head,andit maybe a small additional portion of the body, 

 than oft' he starts again, as if for the mere pleasure of the 

 chase. Speaking of this animal's habits, Mr. Bell also 

 observes that " the otter avails itself of any convenient 

 excavation, particularly of the hollows beneath the 

 overhanging roots of trees which grow on the banks of 

 rivers, or any other secure and concealed hole near its 

 fishing haunt ; though in some cases it fixes its retreat 

 at some distance from the water, and, when driven by 

 a scanty supply of fish, it has been known to resort far 

 inland to the neighbourhood of the farmyard, and 

 attack lambs, sucking-pigs, and poultry thus assuming 

 for a time the habits of its more terrestrial congeners. 

 It is asserted by some that the otter confines its haunts 

 to the rivers and lakes, never descending to the sea. 

 This, however, is a mistake. In the northern parts of 

 Scotland they certainly frequent the sea, and extend 

 their rambles to a considerable distance from the 

 shore ; and Mr. Couch of Polperro, states that " in the 

 summer, and when the weather will permit, it occupies 

 a retired and quiet station where the land stretches into 

 the ocean. It swims low in the water, and will go a 

 mile or more after its prey. The neighbourhood of a popu- 

 lous harbour is a frequent station. Fishes," continues 

 Mr. Couch, "seem to have an instinctive dread of the 

 otter; for I am credibly informed that it has been seen to 

 collect into a shoal a vast number of trouts in a river, 

 and to drive them before until the greater part have 

 thrown themselves on shore." The otter has likewise 

 its enemies. In former times the sport of otter hunting 

 was much sought after in this country, as indeed it 

 probably would also be at the present day, if those 

 animals were only more abundant. In certain parts of 

 Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, otters are still tolerably 

 numerous ; but if they were allowed to increase with- 

 out any cheek, the more delicate sport of the fly-fisher 

 would be seriously compromised. One of the most 

 interesting facts connected with this persecuted animal 

 is, that with care it may, when taken young, be com- 

 pletely domesticated, and not only become an agreeable 

 companion, but even lend a hand to its master, should 

 he be a fisherman in the ordinary sense of the term. 

 In Sweden, the employment of this animal in the cap- 

 ture of fish appears to be no uncommon circumstance ; 

 and an instance has been recorded of an otter which 

 captured eight or ten salmon in a single day. Accord- 

 ing to Mr. Bell, the following is a method of training 

 iirlprl : " They should be procured as young 



as possible, and they are at first fed with small fish and 

 water. Then bread and milk is to be alternated with 

 the fish, and the proportion of the former gradual!}' 

 increased till they are led to live entirely on bread and 

 milk. They are then taught to fetch and carry, 

 exactly as dogs are trained to the same trick; and 

 when they are brought to do this with ease and docility, 

 a leather fish stuffed with wool is employed for the 

 purpose. They are afterwards exercised with a dead 

 fish, and chastised if they disobey or attempt to tear it ; 

 and finally, they are sent into the water after living 

 ones. In this way, although the process is somewhat 

 tedious, it is believed that the otter may be certainly 

 domesticated, and rendered subservient to our use." 

 Independent, moreover, of their value as purveyors of 

 fish, several accounts go to prove that, in the tame 

 state, they become tractable, docile, and even amusing 

 creatures. In the early spring of the year the female 

 produces from three to five young at a birth. The 

 flesh has a coarse fishy flavour, and is not considered 

 good eating. 



THE AMEKICAN OTTEB (Lutra americana) is a 

 much larger species than the above. The body is 

 three feet and a half in length, exclusive of the tail, for 

 which we must reckon other eighteen inches. The fur 

 is of a rich brown colour, not only on the back, but 

 also underneath the belly ; differing in this latter par- 

 ticular from the European species, which is lighter 

 below. According to Hearne, the fur is nearly black 

 in the summer, but in the winter it assumes the charac- 

 teristic chocolate brown, a greyish spot being placed 

 under the chin. This form of otter is widely distributed 

 throughout the North American continent. Sir John 

 Richardson states that it closely resembles the common 

 otter in its habits and food. " In the winter season it 

 frequents rapids and falls, to have the advantage of 

 open water; and when its usual haunts are frozen 

 over, it will travel to a great distance through the snow 

 in search of a rapid that has resisted the severity of 

 the weather. If seen and pursued by hunters on these 

 journeys, it will throw itself forward on its belly, and 

 slide through the snow for several yards, leaving a 

 deep furrow behind it. This movement is repeated 

 with so much rapidity, that even a swift runner on 

 snow shoes has much trouble in overtaking it. It also 

 doubles on its track with much cunning, and dives 

 under the snow to elude its pursuers. When closely 

 pressed, it will turn and defend itself with great obsti- 

 nacy. In the spring of 1826, at Great Bear Lake, the 

 otters frequently robbed our nets, which were set under 

 the ice, at a distance of a few yards from a piece of 

 open water. They generally carried off the heads of 

 the fish, and left the bodies sticking in the net." This 

 last-named habit strikingly accords with what we have 

 above remarked in regard to the common species, and 

 it explains the extraordinary amount of destruction 

 which these animals are known to create among fishes. 

 The female American otter produces from one to three 

 young at a single birth. The fur is of an excellent 

 texture and quality, but its value is deteriorated by the 

 circumstance of its being rather short; nevertheless, 

 several thousand skins are annually imported into this 

 country. In the list of Mustelidse contained in the 



