226 A Day with the Otter Hounds, [Sess. 



up and down the river. After a rest the hounds were taken 

 back to the same holt, and another otter was found. This 

 one again took the hounds down the river, displaying the 

 same tactics, and it ultimately got lost about the mill at 

 Mertoun Bridge. 



As regards the hunt and those taking part, it must be 

 acknowledged everything appeared to be done in the most 

 approved sportsman-like manner. Several opportunities oc- 

 curred for spearing the otter, but no one attempted this, as 

 the otter had to be killed by a dog or dogs. To be successful, 

 a hunt is better to be in the early morning — the scent is 

 keener ; in sunshine it weakens rapidly, and again, in sunshine 

 the otter does not see so well. On land the otter loses much 

 of his address and cunning when cut off from his natural 

 element. It is easily bewildered on land, but in the river or 

 loch it has all its wits. When hunted and kept much under 

 water it gets soon exhausted, and a wound in water smarts 

 and often causes the animal to make for the land. 



Lutra vulgaris is the scientific name of the common otter — 

 the one known to us as frequenting our rivers and lochs. 

 Otters have a strong family resemblance. They are seldom 

 seen in the daytime — Eichard Jefiferies saw only five in forty 

 years, Gilbert White none. In solitary or undisturbed situa- 

 tions they are occasionally seen during the day. They are 

 extremely wary, and ever on the alert. The fur is close, com- 

 pact, and short, with a woolly under-fur, and it dries rapidly. 

 Albinism is very rare; in stuffed specimens the fur gets 

 bleached and lighter. The average length from the tip of the 

 nose to the tip of the tail is 3 feet 8 inches ; weight of male 

 20 to 24 lb., though 36 lb. is recorded, and 16 to 20 lb. for 

 females- — with a difference between a wet and a dry jacket. 

 The eyes are near the top of the head, placed so that it can 

 attack its prey from beneath, — for instance, when attacking 

 upwards a salmon, a pike, or a moor-hen. The ears of the 

 otter are buried in its fur, like those of most water animals, 

 and this gives it something of a reptile appearance. In 

 swimming, the tail is powerful, and the feet, being webbed, 

 act as oars. The claws are strong and sharp. It runs with 

 considerable speed, but does not bound like the weasel. Otters 

 generally hunt down the stream, returning before dawn to 



