20 MUSTELINE. 



Otter is considerably larger than the other, and its tail 

 is also less taper. 



In habits the two are precisely similar ; they live in 

 holes in the banks of lakes and rivers, preferring those 

 waters where the bottom is stony; when unsuccessful 

 in procuring fish will take almost anything that comes 

 in their way, not refusing even a vegetable diet occa- 

 sionally; but are dainty enough when their favourite 

 food is plentiful, selecting only the choicest portions of 

 each fish, and leaving the rest in disdain. 



The Otter is sometimes shot at a considerable distance 

 from the water, being in the habit of travelling during 

 the winter from place to place in search of unfrozen 

 streams, and for that reason is then most commonly found 

 at the foot of waterfalls, or in the proximity of rapids. 

 When surprised, away from its retreat, and especially in 

 snow, it is very quickly overtaken; but it has an un- 

 pleasant habit of snapping savagely at anything ap- 

 proaching it, and its bite is very severe. I have heard 

 an instance in which one, after being mortally wounded, 

 left the marks of its teeth deeply indented on a gun- 

 barrel. If it succeed in seizing a dog incautious enough 

 to have come within range of its fangs, nothing will 

 induce it to relinquish its hold, and even after death it 

 is sometimes with difficulty that its jaws can be parted 

 to release the victim. Notwithstanding this apparent 



