250 ORDER V. 



often infected by the remains of putrid fish, upon 

 which it feeds almost exclusively, although larvae 

 and worms are not refused when pressed by hun- 

 ger, and young lambs are said to fall sometimes 

 a prey to these marauders, in land excursions ; but 

 the otter, it should be remembered, is destructive 

 to fish, and affords excitement to country sports- 

 men; two causes sufficient for even more serious 

 accusations, and for disregarding the positive utility 

 it can be made of by domestication, which, maugre 

 Buffon's incredulity, is not unfrequently accom- 

 plished in North Britain with this species, and 

 largely with a^ Indian Otter; and, in both cases, 

 rendered available for the most successful fish- 

 ing. 



Otters do not confine their search for prey exclu- 

 sively to fresh waters, but will, in Great Britain at 

 least, go out to sea : they have been observed, among 

 others by ourselves, above a mile from the land. 



L. roensis, Ogilb. Var.? The Irish Otter. 

 Considered a distinct species, chiefly on account of 

 its salt water habitat and very dark fur; will re- 

 quire not only further investigation, but also a com- 

 parison with the otters that fish out at sea on the 

 coasts of Cornwall and Devon, and with the spotted 

 otter, Lutra vulg., Varlegata of Desmarets, since 

 a specimen killed in the vicinity of Plymouth, by 

 J. C. Bulteel, Esq. of Fleet, exhibits the sepia-black 

 colour, larger size, and somewhat larger ears of the 

 Irish, and is, moreover, scantily freckled with white 

 specks. 



