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MAMMALIA. 
high that more than half the length of their bodies showed above the 
water. On firing at one of them all instantly disappeared; one stuck 
his head up through a hole in the ice to take a parting peep at us, 
and this was the last we saw of them. Otters are playful creatures 
and when taken young are easily domesticated, and have frequently 
been taught to catch fish for their masters. In growing old, however, 
they are apt to become ugly, and have been known to bite those who 
attempted to play with them. At all times and on all occasions they 
manifest an insatiate and uncontrollable desire to break the peace 
with any dog that chances to cross their path — and woe be to the 
unfortunate brute ! Being compactly built and possessing great 
strength, and an immense store of endurance, they are quick in move- 
ment and make fierce and powerful assailants. Moreover, there is 
usually such a thick layer of fat under the skin that it slips freely upon 
the body and renders it well-nigh impossible for a dog to secure a 
firm hold on them. If the misunderstanding occurs in the vicinity of 
water, as it commonly does, there is a strong tendency for the partici- 
pants to drift nearer and nearer the shore, for thitherward the Otter 
artfully draws his antagonist. I have never witnessed one of these 
little altercations but am told that a drowned dog is generally the 
result. 
Thomas Pennant, in his “ Synopsis of Quadrupeds,” published in 
1771, says (p. 239) that the Otter “ hunts its prey against the stream; 
frequents not only fresh waters, but sometimes preys in the sea; but 
not remote from shore: is a fierce animal; its bite hard and dangerous: 
is capable of being tamed, to follow its master like a dog, and even 
to fish for him, and return with its prey.” 
The fur of the Otter, which is more valuable than that of any other 
of our fur bearing animals, becomes prime in November, remains 
good throughout the winter, and is best in spring. 
Their skins were formerly much employed by the Indians as 
material for their garments. In “ Wassenaers Historie Van Eu- 
ropa,” printed at Amsterdam, 1621-32, occurs the following: “The 
