378 HISTORY OF 



usually the hollow of a bank, worn under by the water. There 

 it often foiTns a kind of gallery, running for several yards along 

 the edge of the water : so that when attacked at one end, it flies 

 to the other, and often evades the fowler by plunging into the 

 water at forty or fifty paces distance, while he expects to find it 

 just before him. 



We learn from Mr Buffon, that this animal, in France, cou- 

 ples in winter, and brings forth in the beginning of spring. But 

 it is certainly difTerent with us, for its young are never found till 

 the latter end of summer ; and I have frequently, when a boy, 

 discovered their retreats, and pursued them at that season. I 

 am, therefore, more inclined to follow the account given us of 

 this animal by Mr Lots, of the Academy of Stockholm, who 

 assures us that it couples about the middle of summer, and brings 

 forth at the end of nine weeks, generally three or four at a time. 

 This, as well as the generality of his other remarks on this sub- 

 ject, agrees so exactly with what I remember concerning it, that 

 I will beg leave to take him for my guide, assuring the reader 

 that, however extraordinary the account may seem, I know it to 

 be certainly true. 



In the rivers and the lakes frequented by the otter, the bottom, 

 is genei'ally stony and uneven, with many trunks of trees, and long 

 roots stretching imderneath the water.' The shore also is hol- 

 low and scooped inward by the waves. These are the places 

 the otter chiefly chooses for its retreat ; and there is scarcely a 

 stone which does not bear the mark of its residence, as upon 

 them its excrements are always made. It is chiefly by this mark 

 that its lurking-places are known, as well as by the quantity of 

 dead fish that are found lying here and there upon the banks ot 

 the water. To take the old ones alive is no easy task, as they 

 are extremely strong, and there are few dogs that will dare to 

 encounter them. They bite with great fierceness, and never let 

 go their hold when they have once fastened. The best way 

 therefore is to shoot them at once, as they never will be thorough- 

 ly tamed ; and, if kept for the purposes of fishing, are always 

 apt to take the first opportunity of escaping. But the young 

 ones may be more easily taken, and converted to very useful 

 purposes. The otter brings forth its young generally under the 



1 Journal Etrangcr, Jiiiu 1755, p. U. 



