THE BOOK OF THE OTTER 



retractile claws, the marks of which are not shown 



on the ground, except when the animal is about 



to make a spring. Although a cat track may 



approximate in size to that of an otter cub, the 



latter always shows claw-marks, and partial if not 



entire imprints of five toes. On hard ground, 



claw-marks will show when the impression of the 



rest of the foot is practically invisible, so anyone 



with a knowledge of woodcraft can hardly mistake 



the track of a cat for that of an otter cub. In the 



same way with the footprints of hounds, terriers, 



or other dogs, their tracks all show the imprints of 



four toes, plus the marks of the claws. A terrier's 



track is far more like that of a fox than an otter, 



while hounds leave large footprints, easy to 



distinguish. 



We have also seen it stated that the track of an 



otter is " recognisable by the mark of its five toes, 



and the absence of a heel." Under certain 



conditions this is true enough, but on favourable 



ground the mark of the heel is plainly visible. 



In like manner an impression of the webbing is 



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