98 WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS. _ [cuap. x11. 
again at some distance, but next time showing only part of its 
head. At other times I have seen one floating down a stream, 
with no exertion of its own which could attract notice; but 
passing with the current, showing only the top of its head and 
its nose, with its tail floating near the surface, and waving to and 
fro as if quite dependent of all restraint from its owner. If 
he fancies that he is observed on these occasions, down he sinks 
to the bottom, where he lies quietly as long as he can do without 
air; and when obliged to rise to breathe, he comes up close to 
the bank, or amongst weeds, with only his nose above water. 
-If, however, the water is clear, and you persist in watching him, 
and by quickly approaching him, oblige him constantly to dive, 
the poor beast will at last in sheer despair crawl out on the bank, 
concealing himself in the best manner he can. But it takes 
some time to oblige him to do this. : 
Otters are very affectionate animals. If you shoot an old one 
who has young in the vicinity, they very soon appear searching 
anxiously for their mother; andif you kill the young ones, the 
parent will come boldly to the surface, and hover about the place 
till she is killed herself. When a pair of otters frequent a place, 
if one is killed, the other will hunt for its lost mate in the most 
persevering manner. If one is caught in a trap, the uther re- 
mains all night near her, running round and round, in vain trying 
to get her away. Though usually so noiseless and quiet, on these 
oceasions they make a great hubbub, blowing and snorting almost 
like a swimming horse 
Sometimes they lie all day on some small island or bank 
covered with rushes, ready to slip down into the water on the 
approach of danger. I was one day in August looking for young 
wild ducks in a swamp covered with rushes and grass, when my 
dog, who was running and splashing through the shallow water, 
suddenly stood still, sometimes whining as if caught in a trap, 
and then biting furiously at something in the water. I could 
not imagine what had happened to him, and he either would not 
or could not come to me when called, so I waded over to see 
what was the matter. I found a large otter firmly holding on by 
his powerful jaws to the dog’s shoulder, and had he not had a 
good covering of curly hair, I believe the brute would have 
