THE BOOK OF THE OTTER 



travelling — up or down-stream — can be verified 

 by the position in which the coke is left on the 

 stones. In our experience there is little reliability 

 about this theory. On a rock in mid-stream the 

 position of the coke is quite as likely to be in the 

 centre as at the sides, particularly if there is a tuft 

 of grass or other growth on the stone. 



An otter is quite likely to turn round, just as 

 a cat or dog does, prior to depositing the coke, 

 therefore the position of the latter can hardly be a 

 reliable guide as to the direction taken by the 

 animal when it eventually moves off. 



Owing to being the possessor of a webbed foot, 



with five toes and short claws, the otter leaves a 



track — in hunting parlance " spur," " seal," or 



" mark/' — entirely different from that of any other 



animal to be met with in this country. Amongst 



the general literature relating to the otter, we have 



found small reference to the animal's footprints, 



while in some cases the information on the subject 



was incorrect. For instance in one article we 



read, it states " No other creature, saving a cat, 



38 



