118 THE COMMON OTTER. 



even this little air hole in the middle of some thick bush." 

 On this statement, Goldsmith observes, " In some places it 

 may be true, but I have never observed any such contrivance j 

 the retreat indeed was always at the edge of the water ; but 

 it was only sheltered by the impending bank, and the otter 

 itself seemed to have but little share in its formation." Its 

 lurking place, which Goldsmith has so correctly described, may 

 be detected by the quantity of its excrements, and the remains 

 of its prey lying on the shore or the banks. 



The otter can run tolerably fast, and it dives and swims with 

 greater expertness and celerity than even the finny tribes them- 

 selves. 



It lives chiefly upon fish, not only devouring great numbers, 

 but destroying more than it consumes ; so that it has been 

 known to kill every fish in a pond in the course of one evening. 

 It either catches its prey by rising under it, or by pursuing it 

 into some little creek, and seizing it there. Mr. Stoddart ob- 

 serves, that " the otter, although naturally shy, and no lover 

 of daylight, will, at times, when in the pursuit, show a bold 

 front, and has been known to contest its prey with man 

 himself. 



A gentleman, when angling for pike on the Loch of the Lowes, 

 about to land a fine fish of ten or twelve pounds weight, was 

 surprised to observe a large otter swim ferociously towards it ; 

 nor did it cease its attack until it had succeeded in carrying 

 away the pike, hook, and all. 



Another person, when angling in St. Mary's Loch at night, 

 has frequently been followed at a short distance by an otter, 

 ready to pounce upon such fish as he might happen to hook. 

 The same angler, lately a resident at the head of the loch, close 

 to Corsecleugh, once observed one of these animals lying asleep 

 upon a piece of meadow- ground, close to the water, and on 

 attempting to kill it, was forthwith assailed in return, and com- 

 pelled to retreat."* 



The old ones are extremely strong and fierce, and never let go 

 * Stoddart's Art of Angling. 



