V 



THE OTTER. 337 



and its motions more light and springy. I have never 

 observed it in any part of the Highlands. 



The common Mus aquations is an ugly creature, and his 

 disgusting look is increased by the apparent deficiency of 

 ears. I remember three being taken alive, by a water-dog, 

 on the Thames, of a rich cream colour. They all kept to 

 the same bend of the river, and were constantly noticed 

 gamboling among the reeds before they were captured. I 

 never saw more savage little creatures; they seemed to 

 surpass even an imprisoned weasel in ferocity. 



I have often noticed that loathsome creatures prey upon 

 loathsome food ; a favourite morsel of the water-rat is a 

 bloated toad,* while a nest of earwigs are the choice tit-bits 

 of the latter. As many as forty have been taken out 'of a 

 toad's maw. Sheridan's remark to a poor starved man 

 eating shrimps is equally appropriate here " You're very 

 like your meat." 



The otter, like all animals that depend on the waters for 

 prey, loses much of his address and cunning when cut off 

 from his native element. Bewildered on land, he seems to 

 feel that he has no fair play, and sometimes refuses to take 

 advantage even of the resources within his reach. In the 

 river or loch, on the contrary, he has always his wits about 

 him, and will try every ruse ere he yields up his life. 



* I have frequently offered my brown owls a toad, but they always re- 

 fused it. They, however, greedily devoured frogs ; and once, when the 

 old male had just swallowed one, we cheated him with a toad. As soon 

 as he detected the nauseous mouthful, he threw it from him with every 

 symptom of disgust, although, in his hunger, he had half bolted it. Even 

 the voracious pike rejects a toad as bait. 



Y 



