90 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



yards from him ; Gesner says much farther ; and that his 

 stones are good against the falling sickness ; and that there 

 is an herb, benione, which being hung in a linen cloth near 

 a fish-pond, or any haunt that he uses, makes him to avoid 

 the place ; which proves he smells both by water and land. 

 And I can tell you there is brave hunting this water-dog in 

 Cornwall, where there have been so many, that our learned 

 Camden says, there is a river called Ottersey, which was so 

 named by reason of the abundance of otters that bred and 

 fed in it. 



And thus much for my knowledge of the otter, which you 

 may now see above water at vent, and the dogs close with 

 him. I now see he will not last long, follow therefore, my 

 masters, follow, for Sweetlips was like to have him at this 

 last vent. 4 



VEN. Oh me ! all the horse are got over the river: what 

 shall we do now ? shall we follow them over the water ? 



HUNT. No, Sir, no, be not so eager ; stay a little and 

 follow me, for both they and the dogs will be suddenly on 

 this side again, I warrant you ; and the otter too, it may be. 

 Now have at him with Kilbuck, for he vents again. 



VEN. Marry, so he does, for look, he vents in that corner. 

 Now, now Ringwood has him ! now he 's gone again, and 

 has bit the poor dog. Now Sweetlips has her : hold her, 

 Sweetlips ! now all the dogs have her, some above and some 

 under water ; but now, now she 's tired, and past losing : 

 come, bring her to me, Sweetlips. Look, 't is a bitch-otter, 

 and she has lately whelped : let 's go to the place where she 

 was put down, and not far from it you will find all her young 

 ones, I dare warrant you, and kill them all too. 



HUNT. Come, gentlemen, come all, let's go to the place 



