220 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
finally with food. When this has been accomplished, 
the otter is taken to the river’s side, and a dead fish 
thrown into the water. From having been taught to 
bring the factitious, it soon learns to bring the real 
fish at its master’s bidding. The next step, from the 
dead to the living object, is sufficiently easy ; and when 
once properly trained, these creatures seldom fail in 
securing their prey and relinquishing it at the bidding 
of those who have reared them, to whom they almost 
invariably evince a strong attachment. In some in- 
stances even in Europe they are valuable property to 
poachers, who make a good deal of money by the 
assistance of their dumb dependants. A tame otter 
sent into a pond will drive the fish into a corner, 
seize the finest among them, swim to shore, and lay 
its capture at its master’s feet. 
“ When thus tamed, they seem to become attached 
to their owners. Bewick informs us that William 
Collins of Rimmerston, near Wooler, had a tame 
otter which followed him wherever he went. He 
frequently carried it to fish in the river ; and when 
satiated, it never failed to return to its master. One 
day, in the absence of Collins, being taken out by his 
son to fish, instead of returning as usual, it refused 
to come at the accustomed call and was lost. The 
father tried every means to recover it ; and after se- 
veral days’ search, being near the place where his son 
had lost it, and calling it by its name, to his inex- 
pressible joy it came creeping to his feet, and showed 
many genuine marks of affection and firm attach- 
ment.” * 
* Wood’s Zoography, vol. i. pp. 263, 4. 
