THE OTTER. 333 



from the sluggish Thames being better suited to their 

 nature than the rapid Tay. But both these river-poachers 

 were completely thrown into the shade by a pirate from 

 the rocks of Skye. This splendid creature was shot last 

 spring by an English gamekeeper on the coast of that 

 island. At first sight, I fancied it one of the monsters 

 from the American lakes. 



Otters are always pretty plentiful on Loch Lomond, 

 and some heathery rocks full of treacherous hollows, close 

 to the water, on Inch Connachan, are called " the otter 

 rocks," from the otters rearing their young among them 

 every year. One of the island game-watchers, a few 

 summers ago, saw an old female, followed by two young 

 cubs, swim from these rocks to Inch Fad, a distance of 

 two miles. The day was very calm, and the dam swam 

 slowly to accommodate her young. In an old chan- 

 nel of the Finlass Burn, a pair were often to be seen 

 in summer disporting in the pool, nearly tepid from 

 the heat of the sun. They seemed to be enjoying a 

 warm bath. 



The otters seldom frequented Rossdhu Bay till the autumn 

 floods, when their sputtering blow was heard in the moon- 

 shine. Thomas A'thing, from marks of his own discovery, 

 always knew when they were there, and the odds were 

 that he secured them and sold their jackets before the week 

 was out. I recollect a very large one that carried his trap 

 into the deep for Thomas, like a knowing otter-trapper, 

 never fastened it. A heavy rain all that night, and next 

 day, raised the loch, and prevented him from looking for 



