NATURAL HISTORY OF THE OTTER 



sometimes left. In snow of fair depth, the 

 individual tracks of an otter are more or less 

 obliterated by the drag of the animal's body, which 

 leaves a furrow as if a miniature snow-plough had 

 been at work. Also in snow the drag of the otter's 

 tail — in hunting parlance " rudder " or " pole " — 

 is generally to be seen. 



The otter has three gaits: walking, jumping, 

 and galloping. The walk shows a line — usually 

 rather twisting — of footprints one behind the other. 

 When jumping the tracks appear in pairs, with an 

 interval between each pair. At this gait the 

 imprints of the hind feet cover the tracks made by 

 the forefeet. At the gallop, which is really jump- 

 ing at top speed, the hind feet are thrown ahead 

 of the forefeet. 



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