THE BOOK OF THE OTTER 



coast being usually heavier than otters frequenting 

 inland waters. No doubt the quantity and quality 

 of the food supply has a good deal to do with the 

 variation. Roughly speaking, the average weight 

 of a dog otter is from 20 lb. to 24 lb., and of a bitch, 

 16 lb. to 20 lb. As far as record weights are 

 concerned, Daniel mentions an otter taken in the 

 river Lea in October, 1794, which scaled " upwards 

 of 40 lb." Turning to a more reliable source of 

 information, however, we find in the Field of 

 July 5th, 1 91 9, a list of the lengths and weights of 

 eleven large otters killed in Norfolk. I take the 

 liberty of quoting the particulars which are as 

 follows : 



Males, 48 inches, 37 lb. ; 53^ inches, 30 lb. ; 

 50^ inches, 28 lb.; 53 inches, 27 lb.; 50 inches, 

 27 lb.; 50 inches, 23 lb.; 48 inches, 23 lb.; 49 

 inches, \Z\ lb. 



Females, 46 inches, 16 lb. ; 43 inches, 16 lb. ; 

 44 inches, 14 lb. 



It will be seen from the above how extremely 



weight varies in relation to measurement. Bitch 



30 



