3o6 HUNTING. 



otters when under water at length loosed their hold, and one rose 

 to the surface two or three seconds before the other, but as soon 

 as the head of the latter appeared they went at each other again 

 con amore. I am inclined to think, from what I have since 

 observed (more of which as I go on), that it might have been a 

 game of play and romps ; but certainly they went at it hammer 

 and tongs until the bitch had driven the intruder half across the 

 pond. He then (the animal I suppose to be the stranger) landed, 

 set the moorhens and even the cock pheasants all on the qui vive^ 

 and finally I lost sight of him in the dark. 



The next evening a neighbour of mine paid me a visit, and as 

 he expressed a strong inclination to share this sight with me, I 

 wrapped him up in a great-coat, put him on a camp stool, and with 

 a good pair of opera glasses we bided our time. Suddenly, just 

 opposite to me and within twenty yards of where I sat, out came 

 the bitch-otter, fished for ten minutes, caught a white trout, and 

 swam with it to her young. I looked intently but in vain at the 

 farther end of the pond, whence she had emerged on previous 

 occasions ; the careful mother had, however, owing, it struck 

 me, to the fight of the night before, shifted her young to other 

 quarters. I can scarcely describe my friend's delight at witnessing 

 this novel and genuine bit of wild sport. 



A few days after this visit I let out the pond, and during that 

 time saw nothing of the otters ; I observed, however, that they 

 still used my drain. On Wednesday last, April 5, the waters 

 "having risen to a respectable height, I went out for a watch, and 

 at 7.20 glided forth from the drain the finest dog-otter I ever saw. 

 He was alone and evidently on the look-out for company, not 

 fishing, but cruising about restlessly all over the place. Once he 

 actually lifted himself on his hind legs until his middle was fairly 

 out of the water, the wildest-looking beast I ever saw ; it then 

 became dark and I saw him no more. 



Again on Good Friday evening when all was quiet around, I 

 took up my position near the pond, and at 7.20 I viewed a brace 

 of old otters emerge from the middle outlet of my drain, and fish 

 industriously for half an hour. During this performance they con- 

 stantly returned to the drain. I have marked the place with a 

 cross. 



On Saturday I hunted at Sheepstor Tor, came home late, so 

 gave my friends, or rather myself, an evening's rest. The next 

 night, however, being Easter Sunday, I saw at ten minutes before 

 seven a sight I would not have missed for gold ; a brace of otters, 



