178 



THE BEASTS OF PREY. 



Story of "A well-known sporting gentleman," 

 a Tame says Wood, "was possessed of an Otter 

 Otter. which had been trained with singular 

 success. When called, the Otter immediately an- 

 swered to the. appropriate name of 'Neptune.' The 

 animal early showed signs of docility and in proc- 

 ess of time increased in aptitude and sagacity. It 

 ran freely about and could fish at will. Frequently 

 it procured a dish of excellent Trout quite alone, the 

 fishing exploits sometimes occupying the greater 

 part of the night. When morning came it was always 

 to be found at its post and a stranger would have 

 been astonished to see it among several brace of 

 Pointers and Greyhounds. In fact, according to the 

 game-keeper, ' it was the best Cur that ever ran.' 

 Its reputation as an angler was advancing rapidly, 

 and its master's neighbors intended to borrow it, for 



On larger lakes and ponds it is followed in boats and 

 shot when it comes up to breathe. A light ripple on 

 the surface of the water indicates its course to the 

 sportsman and guides him in his action. In deep 

 water this mode of hunting is not practicable, for an 

 Otter when killed falls to the bottom like a piece of 

 lead, and when the body finally reappears on the sur- 

 face it is half-decomposed and the skin is spoilt. In 

 rivers where Otters are plentiful one can employ still 

 another method. Large nets are quietly laid across 

 the river and the Otters are frightened by Dogs. 

 Several people take their post at the nets, armed 

 with guns and spears, or else, if possible, they accom- 

 pany the Dogs into the water. Then the predaceous 

 animal is either shot or speared. This is the method 

 of hunting usually pursued in Scotland, and to some 

 extent in Germany. A captured Otter hisses, makes 



THE AMERICAN OTTER. In all parts o( temperate North America, and encroaching closely on the Arctic region, the American Otter 



makes its home on the banks of nearly all streams except those from which it has been driven by Man. While it resembles the European Otter, it is 

 much larger in size, has a longer tail, and has a nasal pad between the nostrils which is larger than that of any other species. The American Otter is 

 vigorously hunted for its fur, and for this purpose traps are largely used after the manner shown in this illustration. \Lutra canadensis.') 



the purpose of ascertaining the size of the larger 

 Trout in the pools on their estates." . 

 Methods of The Otter is ruthlessly persecuted on 

 Hunting account of the damage it does. Its cun- 

 the Otter, ning renders many modes of hunting 

 either impossible or tedious in its case. It is very 

 difficult to shoot it, for when it scents the approach 

 of Man it keeps out of sight. In winter the task of 

 finding it is easier, especially if one lies in wait for it 

 at a hole in the ice. It is most frequently caught in 

 traps set into the water at a depth of about two 

 inches, without any bait. The trap is concealed with 

 moss, and is best put in a ditch which the Otter has 

 to cross on its way from one pool to another. The 

 ditch is for this purpose made so narrow that the 

 Otter must run over the trap to reach its destination. 



a furious show of resistance and defends itself as long 

 as it has a spark of life left ; it is especially danger- 

 ous to imprudent Dogs, as it often breaks their legs 

 with a bite. Experienced Otter-hounds know how 

 to avoid such accidents and soon master the animal. 

 When it finds itself overpowered the Otter expresses 

 its agony by a plaintive whine. 



The fur is used for trimming winter clothing, for 

 caps and fur collars, and in Kamchatka the most 

 valuable Sable pelts are packed in Otter fur for ship- 

 ment, as it is supposed that the latter absorb the 

 dampness and preserve the Sable. The hair of Ot- 

 ters' tails is used for painters' brushes and out of the 

 fine, woolly inner fur expensive and durable hats are 

 manufactured. In consequence of the demand for 

 its fur, the Otter is persistently hunted, 



