60 



this species. Turton oddly enough allowed the same name, Mustela canw- 

 densis, for the Pekan or Fisher, M. pennanti (System^ Naturae, p. 59). 



Professor Wyman, in 1847, named our species Lutra americana. Lutra 

 californica, Baird, and Lutra destructor, Barnst.,are undoubted L. canadensis. 

 The first has the palms and soles less hairy than is usual in L. canadensis, 

 and was reluctantly admitted by Professor Baird, he erroneously sup- 

 posing it to be the true L. californica, of Gray. The second is smaller 

 than the average, but as L. canadensis grows for several years after sexual 

 maturity, Mr. Barnston's specimens may not be full grown. Neither of 

 these species depart, however, from the normal variations of L. canadensis. 



Habits.— The general structure of the' American and European 

 Otters is so nearly identical, their movement and general attitudes can- 

 not be very different. 



Speaking of the European species. Bell has remarked that evidently 

 every facility consistent with the preservation of its structural relations 

 with the rest of the group, is given to the Otter for the pursuit and cap- 

 ture of its proper food. " It swims and dives with great readiness, and 

 with peculiar ease and elegance of movement ; and although its action 

 on land is far from being awkward and difiBcult, yet it is certainly in the 

 water that the beautiful adaptation of its structure to its habits is most 

 strikingly exhibited. It swims in nearly a horizontal position, and 

 dives instantaneously after the fish that may glide beneath it, or pursues 

 it under water, changing its course as the fish darts in various directions 

 to escape from it. When the prey is secured, the Otter brings it on shore 

 to its retreat to feed." The Otter is intelligent and docile, easily domes- 

 ticated, coming like the dog when whistled for. Several, which Audu- 

 bon took when quite young, became gentle as puppies, romping with 

 their master about his study. These ate milk and boiled corn meal, re- 

 fusing fish or meat until several months old. They may be taught to 

 catch fish from the streams for the table. There is no record of the 

 American Otter serving as a purveyor, but instances have been narrated 

 of the fishing habits of the domesticated Old World species, from the 

 time of Albertus Magnus to the late Bishop Heber. This prelate relates 

 that on the banks of the Malta Colly he saw ten large and beautiful Ot- 

 ters (probably the Asiatic species, Lutra nair, Fr. Cuvier) tethered to 

 bamboo stakes by the river, some playing in the water, others rolling in 

 the sand. He was told that the fishermen kept one or more Otters to aid 

 in fishing, the Otters sometimes driving the shoals into the net and 

 bringing out large fish with their teeth. The good bishop was so much 

 pleased as to conclude that " the simple Hindoo shows here a better taste 

 and judgment than half the Otter-hunting and Badger-baiting gentry of 

 England." 



