LESSER OTTER. 
water inse6ls. It's fur, which is esteemed 
next in beauty to that of the Sable, is very- 
valuable. In Bashkiria, these small Otters are 
caught with Dogs and in traps. They are 
said to be excessively foetid. 
The Mink of North America," says 
Pennant, is the same animal w^ith this. 
The late worthy Mr. Peter Colli nson, by 
letter, dated June 14, 1764, favoured me wnth 
the following account ; which he received 
from Mr. John Bartram, of Pennsylvania — ■ 
' The Mink,' says he, ' frequents the water 
like the Otter ; and very much resembles it in 
shape and colour, but is less. It will abide 
longer under water than the Musk Quash, 
Musk Rat, or Little Beaver; yet will leave it's 
watery haunts, to come and rob our Hen- 
roosts : it bites off their heads, and sucks their 
blood. When vexed, it has a strong, loath- 
some smell ; so may be called, the W^ater 
Pole-Cat. Ir's length, from nose to tail, is 
twenty inches ; the tail is four. It is of a fine 
shining dark brown colour.' 
From the conformity," adds Pennant, f 
bet Vy sen 
