302 HUNTING. 



which he killed, and its weight is 5^ Ibs., which will give you some 

 idea of its size ; in fact, in appearance it is nearly as large as a 

 common-size cat. Having hunted otters much myself in former 

 years, I was aware of their being great travellers, but I did not 

 know before that they journeyed in such patriarchal fashion, four 

 families of course being here congregated together. I feel assured 

 you will not consider the time spent in perusing this epistle thrown 

 away, as I think it a very interesting piece of natural history about 

 an animal whose habits are not very definitely known. Mr. Shaw 

 in a second letter adds I have since thought on the probable 

 reason for the migration of so many otters at once, and can only 

 come to this conclusion that they were bred on one of our fresh- 

 water rivers which are mere brooks ; and as the young ones 

 increased in strength and appetite, the supply of fish was not 

 sufficient for them, and they were therefore making their way to 

 the Helford river (the apparent point) which is an arm of the sea. 



A stranger, wishing to hunt with the Hon. Geoffrey Hill's 

 hounds on the Wye, the Irfon, the Ithon, the Llynfi, Towy, 

 and the Eddw, could not do better than make Builth his head- 

 quarters. For the Usk, he should go to Brecon ; for the Teifi 

 and its tributaries, to Newcastle Emlyn ; for the Vale of Clwyd, 

 St. Asaph ; for Pembrokeshire, Haverfordwest ; and lastly, for 

 North Shropshire, Market Drayton. It may be added that 

 Mr. Hill considers the Wye and its tributaries, the Usk, the 

 Teifi, the Towy, and the Clwyd as his favourite and best rivers. 



Artificial drains both on rivers and large fish ponds have 

 proved to be a great success, when constructed with due refer- 

 ence to the wild and shy habits of the otter's life. They arrest 

 him in his travelling propensities, it may be only for a night or 

 so ; but, when once such drains have been used, they are sure 

 to become known to ' all the wandering train ; ' and conse- 

 quently may be reckoned upon as a safe find when hounds 

 hit upon a fresh drag in their neighbourhood. But if made, 

 their whereabouts should be kept secret, or be well looked 

 after ; otherwise the trapper might turn them to dangerous 

 account. 



A drain intended for the lodgment of otters, if constructed 



