COMBAT BETWEEN AN OTTER AND A STONE MARTEN. Members of different species of the Marten family sometimes quarrel and 



the p.cture represents an encounter between an Otter and a Stone Marten which was observed at Beilstein in Swabia. Both these animals are per- 

 sistent hunters o the Water-Rat and it was probably over such a booty that the combat began. The Man who saw the fight approached the animals 

 unnoticed and killed the Otter, which was on top, with a blow, while the Stone Marten made its escape, although the teeth of the dead animal held 

 a mouthful of Marten-fur. The Marten, however, notwithstanding its inferior bulk and strength, had valiantly borne its part in the fight, as was shown 

 by several severe wounds on the Otter's body. 



(181) 



