Concord, Mass.
1912.
Oct. 4
[October 4, 1912]

Otter in river front of cabin

  As Gilbert & I were at supper this evening we were
startled by a tremendous splashing in the water in front 
of the cabin. As he truly said "a cow wading in the river
could scarcely have made more noise.["] The sound was
repeated several times, finally coming, it seemed, from the
boat pit. I thought, at once, of an Otter and presently
became fully assured that it was one when it began
making a series of low, bird-like whistles with every
now and then a louder, staccato cry, short & shrill
yet not exactly a whistle although more that than
anything else. After listening to these vocal & other sounds
for several minutes I stole quietly out with an
electric torch and threw its strong light over the canal
but by that time the creature had returned to
the river where I heard it splash once more
beyond reach of my light. Evening dark, calm & warm.