168 THE OTTER. 



than in the warm. When taken young, the otter may 

 be tamed with very little attention, and in that state it 

 is very playful, and shows a good deal of affection for 

 those who feed it. It may be trained to catch fish for 

 its master. The cubs may be suckled along with 

 puppies, or fed upon milk and bread, as if they get 

 animal food, especially fish, at too early a period, they 

 are not so apt to obey, but will attempt to make their 

 escape when allowed to take the water. When once 

 its attachment has been won, it is, however, very steady ; 

 as is the case with all animals which, in their natural 

 state, find their food chiefly in the water. 



When in a state of nature, the otter is exceedingly 

 ferocious, or rather it maintains its ground with great 

 resolution* Its bite is very hard ; and when seized by 

 dogs, it catches them by the fore leg, a part in which 

 they are very tender, and will retain its hold till the 

 bone snaps. Vulgarly, it is said to do the same with 

 men ; and stories are told of the hunters stuffing their 

 boots with cinders, in order that the animal, which is 

 then allowed to fasten upon the boot, may mistake the 

 cracking of the cinders for that of the bone ; but 

 though we have seen an otter send dogs off howling, 

 we never saw one offer to attack a human being, but 

 rather show every wish to be suffered to carry on its 

 fishing with peace and quietness. 



When food is plentiful, the otter is delicate in its 

 eating. The time when the salmon are ascending the 

 rivers to spawn, is the feasting time of the otter ; and 

 then it is so dainty, that it eats only the choice portion 

 near the head ; and the country people, in some places, 

 watch, and carry off the rest of the fish. It is sometimes 



