34 



\-i-:rti:i!Rates ; mammals. 



Otters live in and about the water, and feed upon 

 fish. They are sportive in their disposition, and amuse 

 themselves by "sliding down hill." Selecting a steep 

 bank of a river, they slide head foremost into the 

 water, and repeat the operation many times, appa- 

 rently with delight. Otters are three or four feet long 

 from the nose to the tip of the tail, the color dark 

 brown, and the fur is of two kinds, one short, fine, and 

 thick, the other long, coarse, and scattered, ^^'hen 

 taken young. Otters are easily tamed, and become so 

 familiar that they will lie in the lap like a cat. 



Skunks are found only in 

 America, and are notorious on ac- 

 count of their disagreeable odor. 

 They are a foot and a half long 

 to the tail, and the color is black 

 and white. They live in burrows, 

 and seek their food at night, eat- 

 ing beetles and other small in- 

 sects, and eggs. Since their food 

 consists so largely of insects, they 

 are useful to the farmer. Their fur is also of commer- 

 cial value. 



Skunk. 



f'K- 53- — American Badger. 



