OTTER'S HAUNTS AND HABITS 



up near the source of the stream, or in some rocky 

 earth adjacent to a mountain tarn. On the grouse 

 moor they may be found in some sod drain or other 

 hiding place amongst the peat and heather, near 

 a pool or pools containing fish, and frequented by 

 wildfowl as well as frogs and such small deer. 



Quite small cubs are often found in holts in the 

 bank of a main river, but it is pretty safe to say 

 that the majority of bitch otters move up-stream, 

 either to the head-waters, or up some side-runner 

 prior to laying down their cubs. The latter have 

 on various occasions been discovered actually 

 beneath, or in close proximity to human habitations. 



In the Field of October 29th, 1921, there is an 



interesting description of such an occurrence, which 



we take the liberty of quoting. It says : " An odd 



experience is recorded to have happened in the 



year 1790 to Mr William Bethel, the then owner 



of Watton, and a guest. He and a clergyman 



were sitting quietly at dinner, when they were 



surprised by an extraordinary noise beneath the 



dining-table for which they could not account, and 



43 



