98 WILD SPORTS OP THE HIGHLANDS. [CHAP xn. 



again at some distance, but next time showing only part of its 

 head. At other times I have seen one floating down a stream, 

 with no exertion of its own which could attract notice ; but 

 passing with the current, showing only the top of its head and 

 its nose, with its tail floating near the surface, and waving to and 

 fro as if quite independent of all restraint from its owner. If 

 he fancies that he is observed on these occasions, down he sinks 

 to the bottom, where he lies quietly as long as he can do without 

 air; and when obliged to rise to breathe, he comes up close to 

 the bank, or amongst weeds, with only his nose above water. 

 If, however, the water is clear, and you persist in watching him, 

 and by quickly approaching him, oblige him constantly to dive, 

 the poor beast will at last in sheer despair crawl out on the bank, 

 concealing himself in the best manner he can. But it takes 

 some time to oblige him to do this. 



Otters are very affectionate animals. If you shoot an old one 

 who has young in the vicinity, they very soon appear searching 

 anxiously for their mother ; and if you kill the young ones, the 

 parent will come boldly to the surface, and hover about the place 

 till she is killed herself. When a pair of otters frequent a place, 

 if one is killed, the other will hunt for its lost mate in the most 

 persevering manner. If one is caught in a trap, the other re- 

 mains all night near her, running round and round, in vain trying 

 to get her away. Though usually so noiseless and quiet, on these 

 occasions they make a great hubbub, blowing and snorting almost 

 like a swimming horse 



Sometimes they lie all day on some small island or bank 

 covered with rushes, ready to slip down into the water on the 

 approach of danger. I was one day in August looking for young 

 wild ducks in a swamp covered with rushes and grass, when my 

 dog, who was running and splashing through the shallow water, 

 suddenly stood still, sometimes whining as if caught in a trap, 

 and then biting furiously at something in the water. I could 

 not imagine what had happened to him, and he either would not 

 or could not come to me when called, so I waded over to see 

 what was the matter. I found a large otter firmly holding on by 

 his powerful jaws to the dog's shoulder, and had he nut had a 

 good covering of curly hair, I believe the brute would have 



