382 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



find any record, though it has been equalled by another which was 

 killed by the Carlisle Otter-hounds. We learn from Mr. H. A. 

 Macpherson, on the authority of the huntsman of that pack 

 (T. Parker), that in Cumberland, bitch Otters vary in weight 

 from 14 to 17 lbs., that he once weighed one of 20 lbs., and that 

 the largest he ever saw weighed 21 lbs. " Dog Otters," he says, 

 " when in condition, weigh from 22 to 26 lbs. Otters of 27 lbs. 

 have been killed on both the Esk and the Lyne in recent years, 

 but they were very big fellows. The heaviest and longest Otter 

 that has been killed by the Carlisle Hounds was drowned in the 

 Eden opposite the Ambrose Holme. This grand dog Otter 

 scaled 31 lbs., and is preserved in the possession of Mr. Wilson, 

 of Carlisle."* It has nevertheless been eclipsed by one that was 

 killed more than thirty years ago by the Bishop Auckland pack, 

 hunted by the late Mr. John Gallon, and which is stated to have 

 weighed no less than 32 lbs. ; but, in the words of the recorder, 

 " this Saul among the people must be regarded as a very extra- 

 ordinary specimen, and far beyond the usual size." t 



A large Otter, much above the usual weight, was killed, 

 according to Mr. Macpherson (op. cit.), in a singular manner in 

 October, 1891. It was run over by an express train while 

 crossing the railway line at Little Salkeld Station, M. K., and 

 was found to weigh 26 lbs. Mr. Southwell informs us that a 

 similar fate befel an Otter in Norfolk in December, 1893, when 

 one thus run over was forwarded to Mr. Gunn, of Norwich, to 

 be stuffed. He has noted also I that one was taken in a bow-net 

 at Ormesby, which weighed 27 lbs. 



A male killed at Kanworth, in January, 1871, after three 

 weeks' intense frost, although in a very emaciated condition and 

 quite empty, weighed 30 lbs., its length being 50J- in. A male 

 killed in March, 1866, weighed 30 lbs. ; and an old male, killed 

 at Bowthorpe, weighed 37 lbs., being 48 in. in length. These, 

 however, are quite ordinary beasts compared with one, also a 

 male, taken by the Carmarthen Otter-hounds at the Cowen, and 

 which an old sportsman says he saw killed and weighed. The 



* 'The Fauna of Lakeland,' 1892, p. 37. 



f ' The Field,' May 17th, 1862 ; and Meynell and Perkins, ' Catalogue of 

 the Mammalia of Northumberland and Durham,' in Trans. Tyneside Nat. 

 Field Club, vol. vi. (1864), p. 132. 



I Trans. Norf. Nat. Soc. 1872—73, pp. 82, 89. 



