THE ZOOLOGIST. 



THIRD SERIES. 



Vol. VI.] JUNE, 1882. [No. 06. 



ON THE BREEDING OF THE OTTER. 

 By A. H. Cocks, M.A., F.L.S. 



In the 'Proceedings of the Zoological Society' for February 

 last I gave some account of the breeding of a pair of Otters in 

 my possession, and as I am now able to add some supple- 

 mentary notes of interest I may perhaps be allowed to preface 

 these by briefly recapitulating the substance of my former 

 communication. 



A female Otter was sent to me in March, 1873, from North 

 Wales, as a cub of about 2f ft. weight, with the permanent incisor 

 teeth just cut. From about the time she was full-grown she 

 came in season nearly eveiy month ; but I never possessed an 

 adult until October, 1879, when I obtained one in Hamburg. 

 Owing to the female animal's extreme jealousy, I was not able 

 to let them run together until they had been duly introduced to 

 each other through the bars of adjoining cages for some weeks. 

 Early on the morning of July 17th they paired in the water, the 

 female loudly chattering, or whistling, in a peculiar way all the 

 while. They remained thus for about an hour ; and the sides of 

 the tank being perpendicular, they were of necessity swimming 

 the whole time, Nothing further was noticed until the morning 

 of August 12th, when they again paired in the water. They 

 remained together on this occasion for an hour and a half. 



On October '2nd, the female being evidently with young, 

 I separated the animals ; and (about 5.45) in the afternoon of 

 the 12th I heard young ones squealing; in all probability they 



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