BRITISH MAMMALS 



had paid the death-penalty because of their depredations. 

 One magnificent dog Otter, which was captured when in 

 the act of feeding upon a large Trout weighing six pounds, 

 turned the scale at twenty-nine pounds, but this may be 

 regarded as a very fine specimen. It was secured a 

 few years ago on the River Ivel at Radwell Mill, near 

 Baldock, Hertfordshire, and was for some time on 

 exhibition in Letchworth Museum. It is now in a 



Tigza. 



private collection. Our friend who captured this fine 



specimen assured us that the loss of every Trout of 



similar size to the one upon which the Otter was feeding, 



meant the loss of ^^5 to him, and as it was his hving to 



rear the fish, one can understand his desire to keep in 



check one of his greatest enemies. For the same reason 



the beautiful Kingfisher had to be killed, as small ponds, 



teeming with yearhng fish, proved an unfailing source of 



attraction to this handsome British bird. No less than 



two hundred of these birds were destroyed on a small 



stretch of water witlain a few years, a sad enough pro- 

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