Chapt. xv. Labor omnia vincit. 207 



" 'probably with him the seat of honour.' They are how- 

 "ever dangerous pets; for, if offended, they will bite 

 "grievously. 



"The capacity of the otter for domestication being 

 "proved, there is no doubt that the animal might be 

 "trained to catch fish or assist in fishing. For this pur- 

 "pose Mr. Bell states the following method has been re- 

 commended: — They should be procured as young as 

 "possible, and be first fed with small fish and water. 

 "Then bread and milk is to be alternated with the fish, 

 "and the proportion of the former gradually increased 

 "till they are led to live entirely on bread and milk. 

 "They are then taught to fetch and carry, as dogs are 

 "trained, and when they are brought to do this well, a 

 "leather fish stuffed with wool is employed as the thing 

 "to be fetched. They are afterwards exercised with a 

 "dead fish, and chastised if they attempt to tear it. 

 "Finally they are sent into the water after living fish." 



"The' common otter is found generally throughout 

 "Europe. 



"L. Nair has the fur deep-chestnut, lightest on the 

 "sides; lower part of the neck and cheeks, as well as 

 "the throat, reddish bright-brown ; above the eye a ruddy 

 "yellow or yellowish white spot. 



"This is the Nir-nayie of the people of Pondicherry, 

 "and is probably the species seen by Bishop Heber, who 



* Lutra Vulgaris. 



