OTTER'S HAUNTS AND HABITS 



to some extent, and when hard pressed by hounds 

 it takes a very rough place indeed to stop an otter. 

 In big coverts an otter will stand up before hounds 

 like a fox, and will travel at a surprising pace. 



On rough, rocky rivers, an otter's claws, 

 particularly those on the hind feet, are often very 

 much worn down. This may be accounted for by 

 the state of the going. A mounted specimen now 

 in our possession has the claws of the hind feet 

 practically worn off, whereas the nails on the 

 forefeet are nearly perfect. 



There are probably few waters in Great Britain 



which are not at some time or other haunted by 



otters. Even in the vicinity of towns the marks 



of otters may be found beside canals and streams, 



the surroundings of which would appear to be 



anything but attractive to Lutra. Being chiefly a 



creature of the night, nomadic and elusive in its 



habits, the otter often spends a peaceful existence 



in the vicinity of human habitations, the occupants 



of which never dream that the " sly, goose-footed 



prowler " is a frequent visitor to their water. The 



71 



