61 



The fossorial ability of the Otter is not of a high order. Its under' 

 ground retreats are not as ingeniously constructed as those of the Musk- 

 rat. It avails itself of any convenient excavation, as the hollows under 

 the overhanging roots of trees. Audubon found three Otters on a bed 

 composed of the inner bark of trees and soft water grasses. This nest 

 was in a hollow tree, with the entrance under water. The Otters were 

 captured in the morning, by cutting a hole into the tree above the nest. 

 and securing the neck of each animal between the halves of a split sap- 

 pling. They generally keep near their fishing haunts, but may be 

 driven by a scarcity of fish to resort far inland to the farming lands, at- 

 tacking lambs, sucking pigs, and poultry; at least this is the habit of the 

 British species. 



Richardson speaks of the Canada Otter frequenting rapids and falls in 

 the winter season, to be sure of open water, often traveling long dis- 

 tances in search of unfrozen rapids. Pursued by the hunter on these 

 journeys, it runs so rapidly that a swift runner on snow-shoes can 

 scarcely overtake it. It runs swiftly, and throws itself forward on its 

 belly, sliding several yards through the snow, leaving a deep furrow be- 

 hind it. This movement is rapidly repeated; it doubles on its track, and 

 dives under the snow to evade its pursuers; if closely pressed, it turns 

 and defends itself with great pertinacity. ' 



The same author states that in the spring of 1826, at Great Bear Lake, 

 the Otters often robbed the nets set under ice, taking off the heads of the 

 fish and leaving the bodies in the net. 



The period of gestation of our species is undetermined. The European 

 species, according to Bell, carries her young nine weeks, bringing forth 

 three to live in March or April. The American Otter, according to Rich- 

 ardson, has one litter annually, about the middle of April, of from one 

 to three young. Audubon observes that in the middle and southern 

 States they are about one month earlier. 



Uses. — During the century, 1769-1868, the Hudson's Bay Company sold 

 in London 674,027 Otter skins; the Canadian Company sold, from 1763 

 to 1839 inclusive, 895,832 pelts. The first mentioned company sold 

 14,966 skins during 1868 ; the same autumn other companies disposed of 

 22,000 skins. These figures will give some idea of the commercial rela- 

 tions of this species. The skin is removed by a cross slit down the hind 

 legs, and withdrawn entire. It is stretched with the hair inside, the tail 

 only being slit on the under side and spread out fiat. The pelt is of such 

 beauty and value, on account of its rich, warm color and exquisite soft- 

 ness, as well as its large size, that the animal is systematically followed 

 by the professional trapper. Heavy double-spring steel traps are em- 



