NATURAL HISTORY. 71 



as a salmon, lying on the bank, perfectly fresh and entire, 

 except a few inches along the back, which the otter has bitten 

 out. 



It is extremely interesting to watch the actions of this 

 almost amphibious creature. It slides noiselessly into the 

 water, turns and twists about below the surface with the same 

 or greater ease than a fish, then, with a graceful sweep of the 

 body, it glides to the surface and ascends the bank with almost 

 the same motion. While below the surface it bears a great 

 resemblance to the seal, the method in which it disposes its 

 hind-feet greatly assisting the effect. Its rapid and easy 

 movements in the water are mostly performed by the assistance 

 of its powerful tapering tail. 



Otter hunting is a very favourite sport in Scotland, where 

 almost every stream is furnished with its otter. At the sight 

 of the footsteps of the animal the population round is in a 

 commotion, the dogs are assembled, guns and spears provided, 

 and the hunters go out in sufficient numbers and with suffi- 

 cient arms to kill a tiger ; and from all accounts it is quite as 

 difficult an animal to destroy ; for by diving, and biting, and 

 hiding among stones, added to its great tenacity of life, it gives 

 the hunters no little trouble to secure it. 



The otter is easily tamed, and its predatory habits turned 

 to account, as it is sometimes trained to catch fish and bring 

 them to shore, precisely as the falcon is trained to catch 

 terrestrial game. 



Several genera are omitted. 



LUTRA. (Lat. an Otter.) 



Vulgaris (Lat. common), the Otter. 



