Otter and Civet Cat. 209 



OTTER (Two varieties). 



(i) The large, clawless (Lutra capensis). 

 (2) The small, with claws (Lutra maculicollis}. 



Chinyanja- - Katumba. | Chingoni - - - Ntimi. 



The former (i) is clawless and both varieties feed on 

 fish, crabs, and insects. The latter (2) can be distinguished 

 by spots on the neck skin and from its smaller size. 



Their skins are pretty and soft, and great numbers have 

 been exported by traders who used to buy a good skin from 

 the natives near Lake Bangweolo for a yard of calico, 

 value 3d., though I fancy the natives know their value 

 better now and ask and receive more. 



Otters give a grunting cry, which can occasionally be 

 heard when camped near rivers and lakes. They are 

 found on all the large bodies of water, and a favourite haunt 

 is the muddy swamps surrounding Lake Bangwelo. 



CIVET CAT (Viverra civet to). 



NATIVE NAMES. 



rFututu. 



Chinyanja - - Chombwe. 



Chingoni - < Chimbwe. 



LChiwanda. 

 Good average skin 3ft. gin. straight. 



Fairly numerous, but seldom seen except by the natives, 

 who kill a few when their dogs disturb and tree them. 



The Angoni have three different names for the civet cat, 

 which I give above. The skin is black, with greyish spots 

 and stripes, and from the back of the ears to the tail the 

 hair is long, especially about the rump. 



They feed mainly on fruits and berries, although they 

 probably eat meat when they can get it. 



It is almost wholly a nocturnal animal, and, during all 

 the years I have lived here, I only remember seeing one in 

 the day time, which I saw on the side of a rocky hill when 

 after klipspringers. They live in holes, and possibly in 

 hollow trees at times. 



