BEASTS OF PREY 49 



otter = German for adder) and very flexible, the animal is able to rapidly 

 change its direction in the water, wherein it is further considerably 

 aided by : 



(d) The long, laterally compressed tail, which acts as a rudder. 



(e) The short legs, the toes being provided with extensile swimming 

 membranes, enable the animal to beat the water vigorously, and act, in 

 fact, as oars. 



CO The cavity of the mouth is closed tightly against the entrance of 

 water by muscular and elastic lips. 



(g) The nostrils have the form of slits, and can also be closed. 



(h) The ears, which can also be closed by a fold of skin, are hidden 

 beneath the fur, and consequently do not impede motion. 



B. Structure of Body and Mode of obtaining Food. 



The food of the otter consists of frogs, crayfish, water-rats, and 

 especially fish. Swimming birds also form its prey. 



1. In the pursuit of these animals, for the most part themselves 

 rapid and nimble in their movements, the otter is aided by— 



(a) Its speed, in which it almost equals the pike and trout. It 

 performs all kinds of antics in the water, as if at play— can rise and 

 sink, turn sideways and backwards, with equal facility. Only at 

 intervals does it place its nose above the water to take breath. 



(b) The sharpness of its senses. It can see excellently under water. 

 The long bristles on the upper lip in themselves indicate a fine sense of 

 touch. 



2. For seizing and tearing its prey the otter is aided by unusually 

 sharp carnivorous teeth, from which no prey, however smooth and 

 slippery, can escape. 



C. A Despoiler of our Waters. 



The otter is a terrible despoiler of our waters, devouring daily on an 

 average about 5 pounds of fish (compute thence the annual amount). 

 When it has thoroughly cleared out one piece of water, it passes on to 

 another, and continues its work of destruction. In spite of its awkward 

 and clumsy gait, it will, in order to gain its object, perform journeys of 

 considerable length. Accordingly, all those who have the preservation 

 of fish at heart are its sworn enemies. Its valuable fur by no means 

 makes up for the depredations it commits. 



D. Distribution and Habitat. 



The otter occurs throughout the whole of Europe and Northern and 

 Central Asia. It lives in a subterranean chamber, reached by a passage 



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