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extremes of heat and cold. It has excessively sharp, short 

 teeth, which enable it to hold fast the fish, on which it chiefly 

 feeds. Its body is elongated and much flattened, and the 

 tail, which is of great length, is also fiat and broad. The legs 

 are short and strong, and so loosely jointed that it can turn 

 them in any direction when swimming. 



The habitations of otters are formed in the banks of rivers 



THE OTTER. 



or lakes, and are not altogether of an artificial character, as 

 they prefer occupying any deserted hullo w or natural crevice 

 to the trouble of digging burrows for themselves. Though 

 they are very playful animals, and delight apparently in sport, 

 they are somewhat of a savage disposition, and must be taken 

 very young to be domesticated. They are cautious, timid 

 animals, and can seldom be approached unawares. They eat 



