THE GREATER OTTER. 



ftretching underneath the water. The fliore alfo is hollow, and fcooped 

 inward by the waves. Thefe are the places the Otter chiefly chufes for its 

 retreat; and there is fcarcely a ftone which does not bear the mark of its 

 refidence, as upon them its excrements are always voided. It is chiefly by 

 this mark that its lurking places are known, as well as by the quantity of 

 dead fifh found lying here and there upon the banks of the water. To take 

 the old ones alive is no eafy tafk, as they are extremely fierce, and there are 

 few Dogs that will dare to encounter them. They bite with great feverity, 

 and never let go their hold, when they have once fattened. The beft way, 

 therefore, is to moot them at once, as they never will be thoroughly tamed ; 

 and, if kept for the purpofes of fifhing, are always apt to take the firft 

 opportunity of efcaping. But the young ones may be more eafily taken, and 

 converted to very ufeful purpofes. The Otter brings forth its yonng 

 generally under the hollow banks, upon a bed of rulhes, flags, or fuch weeds 

 as the place affords it in greateft quantities. I fee in the Britifli Zoology a 

 defcription of its habitation, where the naturalift obferves, < that it burrows 

 under ground, on the banks of fome river or lake, and always makes the 

 entrance of its hole under water, then works up to the furface of the earth, 

 and there makes a minute orifice for the admiffion of the air ; and this little 

 air-hole is often found in the middle of fome thicket.' In fome places this 

 may be true, but I never obferved any fuch contrivance; the retreat, indeed, 

 was always at the edge of the water, but it was only Iheltered by fome 

 impending bank, and the Otter itfelf feemed to have but a fmall fhare in its 

 formation. But, be this as it may, the young ones are always found at the 

 edge of the water; and, if under the protection of the dam, fhe teaches them 

 inftantly to plunge, like herfelf, into the deep, and efcape among the rulhes 

 or weeds that fringe the ftream. At fuch times, therefore, it is very difficult 

 to take them; for, be they ever fo young, they fwim with great rapidity, 

 and in fuch a manner that no part of them is feen above water, except the 

 tip of the nofe. It is only when the dam is abfent that they can be taken ; 

 and in fome places there are Dogs purpofely trained for difcovering their 

 retreats. Whenever the Dog comes to the place, he foon, by his barking, 



