THE OTTER. 



transferred to the retreat thus betrayed. A large stone was first uplifted and hurled upon the top of the 

 pile, with the intention of either forcing the inmates out by the shock, or of breaking some of the stones. 

 Then a pole was thrust into the crevice, which was enlarged so as to admit a dog. One of the canine 

 besiegers immediately rushed in, and, after a few seconds spent in grappling witli his antagonist, an Otter 

 was dragged forth, at whom the whole body of dogs ran a-tilt. His defence was most heroic; many of 

 his assailants exhibiting evidences of the power of his bite. The battle was continued for several minutes; 

 and to those who delight in the display of animal ferocity, the noise of the enraged combatants, and the 

 sight of wounds ami death, must have afforded high enjoyment. Dogs and Otter, involved in one compact 

 group, roiled down a precepitous ledge of crags, at the bottom of which, the power of numbers prevailing, 

 '.he poor Otter yielding up his life, " dying very hard," as it is called.. Two more Otters were taken directly 

 after at the .same cairn; one was shot as he made towards the water, the other was dragged by the tail, by 

 one of the men, from his hole, and bagged alive. This was called a good day's sport. 



Otter Hunt in Scotland. 



Among the sports of our forefathers, Otter hunting was not one of the least esteemed ; and a breed ot 

 rough-haired .powerful dogs was employed in aiding the exertions of the hunters. As the water is the 

 congenial element of the Otter, a single clog has there little chance against so active and resolute an 

 antagonist, nor indeed could any number unassisted bring him to bay. When forced from his retreat, it is 

 in the water, therefore that the animal naturally takes refuge; here a host of dogs assailing him would 

 oblige him to swim beneath the surface as long as he could hold his breath, and on his rising to breathe he 

 would be met by a shower of spears, launched at him by the hunters on the bank. Thus attacked on 

 every side, still his activity and resolution would,* under ordinary cieumstances, enable him to bailie lor a 

 long time (he most vigilant pursuit of his enemies, and not unfrequently to escape. But at length the 

 poor animal perished, as too often happened, wounded and oppressed by numbers, yet fighting to the lr.st. 

 In our day Otter hunting is less commonly practised, as the animal is more scarce as well as more limbed 

 u 1 't,s localities; it is not, however, by any means forgotten. 



'82) 



