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been simply tho resort of an otter during the day I cannot say, 
I’latford is confident such is not tho case, and it is evident from his 
having found one actually containing young, that he is acquainted 
with tho appearance of the genuine nest. I have never heard of 
this form of nest before, and should it be peculiar to the wet, 
reedy margins of our broads, it certainly is a most remarkable 
instance of tho power of these intelligent animals to adapt them- 
selv(!s to circumstances, and reminds us of the skill and intelligence 
displayed by tho beaver in the construction of its “ lodge.” In an 
account of tho otter, printed in 1G93, it is said: — “It makes its 
don very admirably, like as tho beaver does, with wood and beams 
laid acros.s,” and old writers give very “ artificial ” accounts of its 
habitation ; were such a structure known to them as that described 
by Mr. Norgato there would bo some slight foumlation for these 
stories. 
The weight of a full-grown otter is from 1 4 lbs. to 30, or even 
37 lbs. ; a male killed at lianworth, in January, 1871, after three 
weeks’ intense frost, although in a very emaciated condition and 
(juito empty, weighed 30 lbs., its length being 50^ inches ; a male 
killed in March, 18G6, weighed 30 lbs. ; an old male killed on the 
3rd of tho present month, by young Mr. Hinder, at Bowthorpe, 
weighed 37 lbs., being 48 inches in length ; these, however, are 
quite ordinary beasts compared with one, also a male, taken by 
tho Carmarthen otter hounds at the Cowen, and which “ an old 
sportsman ” says {Land and Water , vol. ii, p. 51) he saw killed 
and weighed ; tho weight was 50 lbs. and the length from tip to 
tail G6 inches ! The adult female weighs considerably less than 
the male ; the weights and measures of an adult male and female, 
both taken at the same season of the year, were as follows : — 
male, weight 23 lbs., length 50 inches; female, 16 lbs. and 46 
inches. A young male and female, probably nine months old, 
weighed and measured as follows male, 9 lbs. 4 ozs., 37^ inches; 
female, 9 lbs. 1 oz., and 35j inches. Tho fur of the otter consists 
of an outer coat of long hair, stiff and shining, admirably adapted 
for passing through the water without resistance, and an under- 
coat of line, soft fur (like that of the fur seal, which supplies 
the “ seal-skin ” now so much in use) equally well contrived for 
its purpose, that of maintaining animal heat, the whole forming 
a beautiful water-proof aud non-conducting covering. 
