THE OTTER 



THIS eccentric creature is so much hidden from notice, 

 partly owing to its resources for concealment lying both 

 in land and water, that its habits are not much observed, 

 although it is so generally distributed throughout the three 

 kingdoms. It excites greater attention on the rocky 

 coasts from being occasionally hunted there. In the 

 west Highlands, especially, many of the resident pro- 

 prietors pique themselves on the excellence of their 

 otter-terriers. Some few keep hounds for the purpose, 

 but the terrier is a very good substitute in these wild 

 districts, and of course far more easily procured. 



A good otter-hunt is a very curious sight, and from 

 being able for the most part to see the dogs, and keep up 

 with them, the interest seldom flags. In the Lowlands 

 and Border counties of England, where otters are not so 

 numerous, the fowmarte is often hunted instead with 

 otter-hounds. I was told by a subscriber to a Cumber- 

 land otter-pack, that they had once run a polecat twelve 

 miles from the place where they found his cold drag, and 



