2 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



as in most piscivorous animals, is of considerable length ; in an 

 example examined by Macgillivray it measured 10 feet 10 inches. 

 Externally the head is oval and depressed, with a broad obtuse 

 muzzle, naked round the nostrils, and provided with long stiff 

 whiskers. The ears, provided with a fold of skin which closes 

 them when the animal dives, are short and rounded, almost con- 

 cealed by the hair. The body is lengthened and depressed, the 

 tail flattened and rudder-like, the toes webbed to the claws. A 

 close coating of fine silky under-fur protects the animal from cold, 

 while the outer covering of close-lying glossy hair presents no 

 resistance in passing through the water. Thus every detail in its 

 structure combines to fit the Otter for its amphibious life, and to 

 enable it to pursue its prey in the water with a rapidity, ease, and 

 grace in which it is only surpassed by the Seals. 



There is one peculiarity in its anatomy which has generally 

 escaped observation — namely, the smallness of the gullet. Those 

 who have watched an Otter feeding, as we have done repeatedly, 

 must have noticed that instead of tearing out large pieces of flesh 

 and bolting them like a dog, with very little mastication, it feeds 

 more like a cat, with the head on one side, biting very small pieces 

 at a time, and champing and chewing them well before swallowing. 

 From this point of resemblance "water-cat" would be a more 

 appropriate name for it than " water-dog."* 



The smallness of the animal's gullet is no doubt correlated 

 with its habit of seizing prey under water. It is thus enabled by 

 muscular contraction to close the gullet while the mouth is open, 

 and so to escape suffocation. 



That the Otter is able to remain a long time under water 

 without coming up to breathe, or "vent" as it is technically 

 termed by otter-hunters, is a fact well known to the fraternity. 



It is also said to be able to travel under the ice, and an 

 ingenious explanation has been given by an American observer 

 of the mode by which it is enabled to obtain a sufficient supply, 

 of air during submersion. He says:f — 



" As we all know, there is no air space between the water and the ice, 

 and the Otter cannot draw the air through the ice from above, and does 

 not put his nose up there to cool it. Then what is the explanation ? It is 



* The name " Water-dog" is given to it both in Ireland and Wales. The 

 Irish call it Maclaidh uisce, or Dobharehu, and the Welsh Dyfrgi. 

 t ■ Forest and Stream,' March 14th, 1889. 



