ixvhh brown feathers; and the upper part of the 
neck widi black and white. The beak is fhort and 
black ; and there is a fine red granulated membrane 
over the eyes. The tail is principally black, but 
variegated with brown and v/hite; and the legs and 
feet are feathered to the extremity of the toes. 
Ray is of opinion that this bird is of the fame 
fpecies with the common white lagopus, diftering 
in no other refped: except in colour; and it is faid 
that, in the iummer months, this change of colour 
aftually takes place in thofe birds. It is a native 
of the mountains of Germany; and it's fiefh is 
reckoned very delicate. 
OTTER. A fpecies of the muftela in the Lin- 
nsan fyftem: the characters of which are; that 
there are fix cutting and tv/o canine teeth in each 
jaw; and five toes on each foot, each connefted by 
a ftrong web. 
Otter, Common; the Muftela Lutra of Lin- 
nreus. This anim.al is of an amphibious nature, 
refcrnbling thofe of the terreftrial kind in it's 
fiiape, hair, and internal conformation; and ap- 
proaching to the aquatic tribes in it's manner of 
livin[r, and in havins; membranes or webs between 
the toes, to aOlft it in fv/imming. From this pe- 
culiar ftrudlure of it's feet, it fv/ims falter than it 
runs; and can ovrtake fifh in their own element. 
It has a black nofe, and long whiP^ers; the eyes 
are very fmall, and placed nearer the nofe than in 
other animals ; the upper jaw is longer and broader 
than the lower; the ears are fmall, erect, and co- 
iuc; and the hair is long and thick. The colour 
is brown, fometimes varying to filvery. The legs 
are very iliort, but remarkably ftrong, broad, and 
mufcular; and the toes are covered with hair. 
The joints are fo loofely articulated, that the ani- 
mal can turn them quite back, and bring them on 
a line with the body, fo as to perform the office of 
fins. The ufual length of the Otter, from the 
nofe to the tail, is ufually about twenty-three in- 
ches ; and it's tail, which is flat, fharp-pointed, and 
fulleft of hair in the middle, is about thirteen in- 
ches. 
This animal is found only by the fides of lakes 
and rivers ; and particularly the former, being 
moft defirous of fiftilng in ftagnant waters; for 
the current having more power on it than the 
fifties it purfues, v/hen it hunts againft the ftream, 
it fwims too flow ; and when with the ftream, it 
overfhoots it's prey. However, when in rivers, 
it is always obferved to fwim againft the current, 
and to meet the fifii on v/hich it preys rather than 
purfue them. In lakes, it deftroys much more 
than it aonfumes ; and has often been known to 
depopulate a pond in a few nights. But the da- 
mage it does by deftroying the fifh is lefs confi- 
derable than in tearing to pieces the nets of the 
fiftiermen, which it infallibly does as often as it 
is entangled; for the inftant it finds itfelf caught, 
it goes to work with it's teeth, and in a few mi- 
nutes will deftroy a net of confi.derable value. 
The Otter condu6ls it's fiiliing by two difi^e- 
rent methods; the one by catching it's prey from 
the bottom upwards, and the other by purfuing it 
into fome little creek, and there feizing it. In 
the former cafe, as this animal has a greater ex- 
tent of lungs than moft other quadrupeds, on 
taking in a quantity of air, it can remain for fomx 
minutes at the bottom of the water; and whatever 
fifti pafs over during that time, are fure to be 
taken ; for the eyes of fifli not being adapted for 
looking downward, the Otter attacks them una- 
wares from belov/; and feizing them at once by 
the belly, drags them on ftiore, v/here it often 
leaves them untouched, in order to continue the 
purfuit, for hours together. The other method 
is chiefly praftifed in lakes and ponds, where 
there is no current; and thefifti there taken are of 
the fmaller kind, for the larger never quit the 
deep water. 
After this manner the Otter ufually lives dur- 
ing the fummer feafon, being furniflied with a 
fupply much greater than it's confumption ; killing 
the fifti for it's amufemcnt, and infe6ting the 
edges of the lakes with great quantities of deac! 
ones. But, in winter, when the lakes are frozen, 
and the rivers devolve a rapid torrent, the Otter 
is often greatly diftrefied through want of provi- 
fions, and compelled to fubfift on grafs, weeds, 
and even the bark of trees. It then comes on 
land; and, grown courageous from neceffity, 
feeds on terreftrial animals, as rats, infedls, and 
even flieep. Nature, however, has furnifhed it 
with the power of continuing a confiderablc time 
without food ; and though, during that feafon, it 
is not rendered quite torpid, like themarmotte or 
the dormoufe, yet it generally keeps within it's re- 
treat, ufually the hollow of a bank excavated by 
the water: there it often forms a kind of gallery, 
running for feveral yards along the edge of the 
v/ater; fo that, when attacked at one end, it flies 
to the other, and often evades the hunter by plung- 
ing into the ftream at a confiderable diftance 
from the place where it was expedled. 
Buffbn informs us, tliat in France this animal 
couples in winter, and brings forth in the begin- 
ning of fpring. But it is certainly difi^erent in 
this kingdom, where it's young are never found 
till the latter end of fummer: we are there- 
fore more inclined to credit the account of Mr. 
Lots, of the Academy of Stockholm, who afi"ures 
us, that it couples about the middle of fummer, 
and, at the expiration of nine weeks, ufually brings 
forth three or four young. 
In the rivers and lakes frequented by the Ot- 
ter, the bottom is generally ftony and uneven, 
with many trunks of trees and long roots ftretch- 
ing underneath the water; the ihore alfo is hol- 
low, and fcooped inwards by the waves. Thefe 
are the fituations in which the animal delights to 
fi.x it's abode 5 and there are but few ftones that 
do not bear fome veftiges of it's proximity, as on 
them it's excrements are always voided. By thefe 
marks it's lurking-places are chiefly known, as 
well as by the numbers of dead fifti diiperfed along 
the banks of the water. 
It is no eafy taflc to catch the old Otters alive, 
as they are extremely ftrong; and but few dogs 
will dare to encounter them, as they bite with 
great fiercenefs, and never quit their hold. The 
beft way is to difpatch them by fire-arms, as they 
never can be thoroughly tamed ; and, if kept for 
the purpofes of fifhing, they embrace every oppor- 
tunity of efcaping. But the young ones may be 
more eafily caught, and trained up to very bene- 
ficial purpofes. 
Otters generally bring forth their young under 
hollow banks, on a bed of rufties, flags, or fuch 
weeds as the place affords in greateft quantities. 
They are always found at the edge of the water j 
and, when under the protedlion of the dam, fhe 
teaches them inftantly to plunge into the deep, 
and efcape from their purfuers among the ruflies 
or weeds that fringe the ftream. At fuch times 
therefore 
