ioo WOODLANDERS AND FIELD FOLK 



is its best element. Immersed in this, its coat 

 appears smooth and glossy. In pursuing its prey 

 it performs the most graceful movements, doubling 

 and diving so rapidly that it is difficult to follow its 

 evolutions. When fishing, its object is to get be- 

 neath the object pursued, as, from the construction 

 of its eyes, which are placed high in the head, it is 

 better enabled to secure its prey. This it seldom 

 fails to do, its whole structure, as already remarked, 

 greatly facilitating its movements in the water. 

 Its uniform dusky brown coat has, like all aquatic 

 creatures, a soft under-fur with long hair above. 



The otter generally takes possession of a natural 

 cavity, a drain, or a hole made by the inundation of 

 the stream. The entrance is usually under water, 

 and inclines towards the bank; situations where 

 this is overhung with bushes, and where tall water- 

 plants grow in the vicinity, are generally chosen. 

 From this cavity the young, when three or four 

 weeks old, betake themselves to the water. If 

 captured now they may easily be domesticated. 

 One of my friends has to-day a young otter, which 

 he leads about on a leash. At Bassenthwaite a man 

 and his son trained a pair of otters to fish in the lake. 

 They would return when called upon, or follow their 

 master home when the fishing was over. The males 

 in spring fight desperately, and once, when hidden, 

 I witnessed a fight which lasted an hour ; so 



