90 a hand-book of the management of animals 



Observations on the habits of a Hog-badger. 



It is thoroughly nocturnal in habits, sleeping the greater part of 

 the day ; when disturbed it becomes enraged and either darts at the 

 disturber with a hissing grunt, or retires further into the hole or box. 

 Its anxiety to escape has been already alluded to. Once a somewhat 

 tame animal was kept in an iron enclosure about 8 feet high ; after 

 having been in this place for nearly a fortnight the animal disappeared 

 one night. To accomplish this it had not only to climb the fencing of 

 its enclosure, but a wall of equal height, the coping of which was stud- 

 ded with broken glass. Another animal effected its escape by breaking 

 open the roof of its cage. 



(97) THE COMMON OTTER. 



(LUTEA YULGABIS—JErxl.) 



Hindi— TJd. Bengali — Ud-biddal ; Manch-bhondor, that is, fish-otter. 



(98) THE SMOOTH INDIAN OTTEB. 



(LUTEA ELLIOTI— Anderson.) 



It is called Ludhra in Sindh. 



Otters are so common in Bengal that no description is needed. 



These two species (97 and 98) have a great resemblance externally ; 

 if, however, they are carefully observed side by side, it will easily be 

 seen that a full-grown common otter is a slightly larger animal than the 

 next species, and that the upper edge of its naked muzzle or the pad 

 of the nose is not straight, but somewhat raised in the middle and 

 co u cave on each side, whereas the pad of the nose of the smooth-haired 

 species is almost flat. 



Hab.— The Indian form of the common otter is found almost all 

 over India and Ceylon, and is frequently met with in the neighbourhood 

 of Calcutta. They have been obtained from Eajshahye, the Sunderbuns, 

 Jessore, Bungpore, Midnapore, Bhagulpore, the Sonthal Pergunnahs, 

 Purneah, and Dacca. The smooth-haired species occurs throughout 

 India: common in Sindh and the Punjab, and found side by side with 

 the common otter in Lower Bengal. This species has been received 

 from Sindh and the Punjab. 



Length of life in captivity. 



A specimen of the common otter has been living in the garden 

 since October 1886. Otters have lived for periods varying from a few 

 months to five years. A smooth- haired species lived from March 1876 

 to August 1887 ; another specimen from Bhawlpore (Punjab) has been 

 living since January 1889. 



Treatment in captivity. 



Housing. — "Water is indispensable for the health and comfort of an 

 otter. The style of accommodation that has been fonnd best suited to 

 their habits in this climate consists of an iron structure built on the 



