THE OTTER. 
197 
'''hiskers ; the eyes are small and very bril- 
liant ; the legs remarkably short and mus- 
'^^lar, but the joints extremely supple. The 
i^*tr is of a deep brown colour, with two small 
^pots on each side of the nose, and another 
'Wilder the chin. 
The otter is an inhabitant of almost all the 
i-^ttiperate countries of the world, and is found 
some of the tropical regions. It shows 
Si’eat sagacity in forming its habitation. It 
Arrows under ground in the bank of some 
bver or lake, and always makes the entrance 
its hole under water, working upwards to 
'-lie surface of the earth ; and, before it reaches 
I'iie top, it makes several holts or lodges, that 
case of high floods it may have a retreat, 
no animal seems more desirous of lying 
It then makes a small aperture for the 
admission of air ; and, the more effectually 
conceal its retreat, it contrives to make 
^Ms air-hole in the midst of some thick bush. 
