THE OTTER 135 



by the followers of the hunt, and this only in exceptional cases. Any 

 one "tailing" an Otter, by the way, has to be careful, or he is likely 

 to find out that the quarry can inflict a very severe bite. 



Young Otters brought up by hand make very interesting pets, and 

 can be taught to catch fish for their masters; in captivity they have 

 been observed to eat horse-chestnuts, which looks as if the wild 

 animal may sometimes vary its carnivorous diet. 



The Common Otter has a wide range, all across Europe and 

 Northern Asia, while it is also found in India. 



In that country, however, another Otter is common-, the Small-clawed 

 species {Lutra leptonyx) ; this is only about as large as a Cat, and, as 

 the name implies, has very small claws. In general appearance it is 

 much like our species, and indeed all Otters look much alike but for 

 size. They are found everywhere except in the Australian region. 



In Africa two Otters are well known, the Spotted-necked {Lutra 

 maculicollis) which is very similar to our Otter but with brown spots 

 on the neck, and a much larger kind, the Clawless Otter {Aonyx 

 inunguis), which has no claws at all, and the feet only half-webbed ; 

 this species seems to be less thoroughly aquatic in its habits. The 

 North American Otter {Lutra canadensis) is much like our own, and 

 supplies most of the Otter skins which come into the fur trade. 



In South America there occurs the giant of the group, the great 

 Brazilian Otter {Lutra brasiliensis), which is twice as large as ours — ■ 

 nearly as big as a small Leopard, in fact. These great Otters are often 

 seen in small parties in the rivers, and they show little fear of man ; 

 in fact, in some places the natives seem to be rather afraid of them. 



It is suggested that the mysterious "Water-tiger" of Patagonia, a 

 river-haunting carnivore which is dreaded by the Indians — by no means 

 a timid set of savages — and leaves tracks as big as a Puma's, is a 

 large race of this beast, or some nearly-allied species ; but so far no 

 European has got even a sight of it, though more than one traveller 

 has been convinced of its existence. 



