THE COMMON OTTER. 119 



when once they have got hold of their enemy. In the Regent's 

 Park Zoological Gardens there are two otters in a railed enclo- 

 sure, containing a pond and an isolated dwelling for them, 

 constructed of rock-work. They are partitioned from each other 

 to prevent angry conflicts, as one of them is so exceedingly 

 vicious, that it has been thought necessary to put up a notice, 

 telling the visitors to beware of its biting them. Lately, to 

 try the power of its teeth, I presented a walking- stick towards 

 it, which it seized angrily, and held firmly for some time ; and, 

 when it let go of it, the marks of the teeth were visible to some 

 depth. On throwing pebbles into the water, either of the otters 

 dived after them, and in almost the next instant, so rapid are 

 their movements, they emerged and brought them on shore. The 

 feeding of these otters is one of the most interesting sights of the 

 many to be witnessed in these delightful and instructive gardens. 



In its wild state, if fish happen to become scarce or inac- 

 cessible, the otter preys upon terrestrial animals, and, approach- 

 ing the farm-yards, attacks lambs and young pigs. Several 

 writers say, that at such times it also feeds upon rats and 

 insects $ and Lovell says, it feeds on the " tops of plants, 

 fruits, and bark." 



With respect to the breeding season of the otter, the state- 

 ments of zoologists are again at variance. Buffon says, that 

 in France they couple in winter, and bring forth in the beginning 

 of spring. M. Lots says, that in Sweden they couple about the 

 middle of summer, and bring forth at the end of nine weeks, 

 generally three or four at a time. Professor Bell says, that in 

 Britain they produce from three to five young ones in March 

 or April ; but Goldsmith, who appears to have carefully observed 

 the animal's habits, asserts, that " with us the young are never 

 found until the latter end of summer/' in which season, he 

 says, he has frequently discovered them when he was a boy. 

 The female litters under the hollow banks, upon a bed of rushes, 

 flags, or other aquatic plants. 



When tamed, the otter will follow its owner about like a dog, 



