250 MR. A. H. COCKS ON THE BREEDING OF THE OTTER. [Feb. 1, 



presence. On finding that the bed was not ready, she swam back 

 with the cub across the tank ; and although I left the cage as 

 quickly as possible, she made altogetlier about six journeys across 

 the tank (which is between 13 and 14 feet long), holding the cub 

 by the neck in her mouth, and carrying it most of the way under 

 water. I could not be sure about its eyes, but believe it to have 

 been still blind. It appeared to be about 15 inches long, or possibly 

 hardly so much. On the 29th the cubs were about 1 foot long in 

 head and body, with tails 6 inches long, "Weight probably about 

 2 lb. Eyes open. 



On the night of December 5, one of the cubs first showed itself, 

 lying with its head hanging out of the box. On the 9th the cubs 

 first came out of their own accord, and went into the water several 

 times (both accidentally and purposely it was supposed) ; the tank 

 being nearly brimfull, they were able to get out without assistance. 

 On the 10th I first saw the mother carry fish into the box to try 

 to tempt the cubs to eat. In the afternoon of the same day, the 

 cubs were anxious to come out of the box ; but the mother, hearing 

 the gardeners at work close by, would not allow them. Presently 

 one of the cubs having become very refractory, the old Otter seized it 

 by the side of the neck, carried it to the tank, and gave it a thorough 

 ducking, and thence straight back to bed, where, after another short 

 demonstration of independence, it subsided. On the 12th one of the 

 cubs when out, being frightened at an accidental noise, plunged 

 without hesitation into the tank, and swam across nearly all the 

 way under water. 



On the morning of the 13th, on my feeding the old Otter while 

 the cubs were out with her, she took two small roach to them, and 

 tried to make them eat, taking first one fish, then the other, then 

 both together in her mouth, and moving them about close in front 

 of the cubs to attract their attention, at the same time uttering a 

 peculiar whine or growl, or something between the two, which 

 sounded ferocious. This she has continued to do every day since up 

 to date of writing (January 15) ; and one cannot help thinking that 

 her idea of teaching the cubs to eat is to encourage their natural 

 rapacity by pretending she does not want them to have the food. 

 On this first occasion, though they occasionally gnawed at the fish, 

 they appeared to get nothing ofi'. 



On the 28th, I turned out the cubs to exhibit ; they had now 

 become shy, and bit fiercely. 



On the 31st, about 11.15 p.m, I found the cubs out, and calling, 

 as if hungry ; so I gave them in a supply of food, which they appeared 

 to appreciate. They have continued since that date to expect some 

 food the last thing each night, in addition, since the 5th instant, to a 

 meal about 6 p.m. ; and about the same date they began to eat a little 

 the first thing in the morning ; but they, now lie up all through the 

 day, and the mother, when fed at other times than those specified, 

 makes no attempt to induce them to eat. 



