176 



THE BEASTS OF PREY. 



THE OTTERS. 



The third sub-order of the Martens is formed by 

 the Otters (Lutrida), which number about twenty 

 distinct species that are distinguished by a long, flat 

 body resting on short legs, a flat head with a blunt 

 snout, small, prominent eyes and short, round ears ; 

 very well developed webs between the toes; a long, 

 tapering, flattened tail, and short, coarse, sleek, glossy 

 hair. The paws are five-toed, the two middle toes 

 being but slightly shorter than the outer ones. Otters 

 do not possess a scent-pouch, but have two scent- 

 glands terminating at the root of the tail. The 

 structure of the teeth and skeleton resembles that 

 of the other Martens. The most peculiar feature is 



THE CAPE ZORILLA. While our own American animals of the Skunk group 



have no rivals in the faculty of emitting offensive odors, the Zorillas of Africa have great 

 ability in that way. The Cape Zorilla is a prettily marked animal with white stripes 

 extending along its body and a long, bushy tail. It hunts and kills all small mammals and 

 birds, and is an accomplished Chicken-thief, so that the picture appropriately shows it with 

 feathered prey. {Rhabdogale mustelina.) 



the strikingly flat skull, with its wide cranial part, its 

 narrow facial one, and a short snout, these character- 

 istics appearing in all the various species. 



Aquatic Otters inhabit rivers and oceans, and 

 Nature of the range over nearly all parts of the globe, 

 Otters. with the exception of Australia and 

 very high latitudes. They leave the water only when 

 compelled to do so, and then solely with a view 

 of finding some other body of water. They swim 

 and dive in a masterly manner, being able to stay 

 under water a very long time ; they run tolerably 

 well, in spite of their short legs, and are strong, cou- 

 rageous animals. They are capable of domestica- 

 tion. Their relations to Man are always strained, for 



the damage they do is far in excess of the benefit 

 they confer by their valuable furs. 

 Description Europe harbors only one species of this 

 of the Com- sub-order, the Common Otter {Lntra 

 mon Otter, vulgaris). The length of this animal is 

 forty-eight inches, sixteen of this going to the tail. 

 The head is oblong and rounded ; the eye is small, 

 but has a vivacious expression ; the ear is very short, 

 rounded, can be closed by a fold in the skin, and is 

 nearly hidden in the fur ; the body is slender but 

 flat ; the tail is more or less rounded and tapering 

 toward the end ; the legs are very short, webbed up 

 to their claws and adapted for a plantigrade walk. 

 The fur is thick and fits the body closely ; its outer 

 coat consists of wiry, lustrous hair of a dark brown 

 color ; the under surface is of a slightly 

 lighter tinge, which at the throat and sides 

 of the head merges into whitish - gray 

 brown, the hidden margin of the ear being 

 light brown ; the lower lip shows a patch 

 of faded white, and several other small 

 white spots are distributed over chin and 

 lower jaws. Some animals have a tint in- 

 clining to grayish brown, rather than dark 

 brown. 

 Where and How The common Otter inhab- 

 the Common its all Europe and the 

 Otter Liues. greater part of central and 

 northern Asia, ranging as far as the Amoor 

 to the east, and to the Himalayas on the 

 southeast. It does not seem to extend 

 very far north, for Lapland shows only a 

 few scattered specimens. In India, China 

 and Japan its place is taken by closely al- 

 lied species, while those inhabiting Africa 

 and America rank as distinct species. In 

 middle and southern Europe it is found 

 in every body of water offering any prom- 

 ise of food, even in rivers running through 

 densely populated countries. In central 

 Asia it is also common everywhere. The 

 Indian Otter even goes into the sea, lives 

 at the mouth of rivers and occasionally 

 visits the Ocean. 



The Otter has a predilection for rivers 

 whose banks are extensively grown to for- 

 ests. There it lives in subterraneous bur- 

 rows, constructed in accordance with its 

 tastes and mode of life. The place of exit 

 is always located below the surface of the 

 water, usually at a depth of about eighteen 

 inches; a tunnel about two yards long 

 leads thence, slanting upwards into a spa- 

 cious chamber, which is lined with grass 

 and always kept dry. Another narrow 

 tunnel runs from the central chamber to 

 the surface and aids in ventilation. Under 

 all circumstances the Otter has several retreats or 

 homes, unless fish is exceedingly plentiful and it is 

 not obliged to undertake extended journeys for 

 food. When the water rises and inundates its habi- 

 tation, it has recourse to trees or hollow trunks, 

 where it spends its leisure hours when not hunting. 

 Traits and The Otter entails great loss upon the 

 Movements of owners of fisheries and upon enthusi- 

 the Otter. astic anglers, but is extremely attract- 

 ive to the naturalist. Its life is so peculiar that it 

 has to be observed in a special manner, and therefore 

 must furnish pleasure to every person fond of nature. 

 The Otter is remarkable in every way ; in its aquatic 

 life, as well as in its movements ; in its hunt for food 



