THE NIGHT SIDE OF NATURE 99 



A single movement would cause the dark shadow to 

 divide the dark water and vanish silently away. The 

 otters have reconnoitred and all is safe. They come 

 paddling down-stream, and, arriving at the pool, stop, 

 tumble and frolic, rolling over and over, and round and 

 round, and performing the most marvellous evolutions 

 you could possibly conceive. They swing on a willow- 

 spray; then dash with lightning velocity at a piece 

 of floating bark, tumble with it, wrestle with it, and 

 go through a hundred wonderful movements. For a 

 moment they are motionless, then begin to play 

 again, and so- continue for nearly an hour, when, 

 as if suddenly alarmed, they rush down-stream to 

 their fishing-grounds, and leave me cold and be- 

 numbed. I plod home through the meadow beneath 

 the moon and stars, chilled to the marrow by the 

 falling dew. 



Otters are still abundant on the banks of most 

 northern streams, and also among the rocks and 

 boulders of the coast-line. Human invasion drives 

 them from their haunts, although, where waters 

 remain unpolluted, they not unfrequently pass up 

 the rivers by towns and villages during the still 

 night. On the margins of the more secluded tarns 

 of the fells otters are yet found. Fitted for an 

 aquatic existence, the structure of the otter beauti- 

 fully exhibits the provisions suitable to its mode of 

 life. On land it can travel swiftly, though the water 



