THE CAPE OR CLAWLESS OTTER 



of the river, awaits the attacks of the dog, and fights 

 desperately until killed. 



A friend lost two fox terriers, which were killed 

 by a male Cape Otter in the Umgeni River in Natal. 

 A pack of a dozen otter hounds and terriers had 

 driven the otter from cover into the centre of a 

 deep pool. Two terriers in advance of the pack, 

 swam out and attacked the animal. The otter 

 awaited their assault and gripped the foremost of 

 the dogs. Both vanished under water and reap- 

 peared in a few seconds, struggling desperately. 

 The second terrier came to the rescue, and for the 

 next few minutes a terrific struggle was maintained. 

 Presently the otter and one terrier disappeared, 

 and the otHer was seen to be in difficulties. Di- 

 vesting himself of his coat and boots, my friend 

 swam to the rescue, and succeeded in bringing the 

 dog to shore. It was dreadfully bitten, and its 

 abdomen was so severely lacerated that it subse- 

 quently died. No sign of the otter or second terrier 

 was seen until the following day, when the bodies, 

 with teeth firmly buried in each other's flesh, were 

 discovered at a drift a quarter of a mile further 

 down the river. 



The Cape Otter when brought to bay always 

 fights desperately to the last. On land it cannot 

 put up much of a fight, for it is clumsy in its move- 

 ments, and can, in consequence, be attacked from 

 behind by an active dog before it can succeed in 

 turning. 



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