o 



OTTER. Clafs f. 



remarkably flrong, broad, and mufcular •, the joints 

 articulated fo loofely, that the animal is capable of 

 turning them quite back, and bringing them on a^ 

 line with the body, fo as to perform the office of fins. 

 Each foot is furnifhed with five toes, conneded by 

 ftrong broad webs, like thofe of v/ater fowl. Thus 

 nature in every article has had attention to the vv'ayof 

 life fhe had allotted to an animal, whofe food is filh -, 

 and whofe haunts muft necelTarily be about waters. 



The color of the otter is entirely a deep brown, ex- 

 cept two fmall fpots of white on each fide the nofe^ 

 and another under the chin. The Ikin of this ani- 

 mal is very valuable, if killed in the winter; and is 

 greatly ufed'in cold countries for lining eloaths : but 

 in England it is only ufed for covers for piftol furni- 

 ture. The befl furs of this kind come from the 

 northern part of Europe^ and America. 



The otter fwims and dives with great celerity, and' 

 h very deflrudive to fi(h : in rivers it is always ob- 

 ferved to fwim againft the ftream, to meet its prey. 

 \x\ very hard v^eather, when its natural fort of food 

 fails, it will kill lambs and poultry. Its flefh is ex- 

 ceffivcly rank and fifhy. The Romifi church permits' 

 theufe of it on maigre-days. In the kitchen of the 

 Carthiiftan convent near Dijon^ we faw one preparing 

 for the dinner of the religious of that rigid order, who, 

 by their rules, are prohibited during their whole lives, 

 the eating of fiefn. 



It fhews great fagacity in forming its habitation : 

 it burroughs under ground on the banks of fome river 

 or lake; and always makes the entrance of its hole 

 ynder water; works upwards to the furface of the- 



earthy, 



