THE OTTER AND HIS WAYS. 



305 



white fish. She then without diving swam off with her head just 

 above water, and with wonderful rapidity, to the bank opposite, 

 dived, and then I heard the most extraordinary sort of whistling, I 

 suppose the young quarrelling for their prey. In three minutes 

 she came out and again repeated the same fishing, again caught a 

 fish, again went to the young ones. She then came out a third 

 time, but as I was pretty well soaked I moved on, and from that 

 moment all was quiet. 



The swans have got accustomed to them, for although the 

 otter came up several times within ten yards of them, the old drake 



Otters at play. 



only set up his hackles and did not seem to mind her much. 

 Now of course I know where the young ones are laid up, and 

 I shall see, I daresay, very many interesting episodes of otter 

 life. I think you ought to come over some day and enjoy the 

 sight. 



About a week after that tempestuous day, I was again favoured 

 with a grand sight, and I only wish you had been present to witness 

 it with me. I was sitting at the farther end of the pond from where 

 the young were laid up, when suddenly I saw two large otters, as 

 I thought, fighting. The tussle first began at the very place where 

 a week before I had seen the bitch-otter feed her youug. The 



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