CANADA OTTER. 
9 
marshes, and engaged in capturing mullets {Mugil). In most cases they 
came to the hank with a fish in their mouth, despatching it in a minute, 
and then hastened again after more prey. They returned up the river to 
their more secure retreats with the rising tide. In the small lakes and 
ponds of the interior of Carolina, there is found a favourite fish with the Ot- 
ter, called the fresh-water trout {Grystes salmoides). 
Although the food of the Otter in general is fish, yet when hard pressed 
by hunger, it will not reject animal food of any kind. Those we had in 
confinement, when no fish could be obtained were fed on beef, which 
they always preferred boiled. During the last winter we ascertained 
that the skeleton and feathers of a wild duck were taken from an Otter’s 
nest on the banks of a rice field reserve-dam. It was conjectured that 
the duck had either been killed or wounded by the hunters, and was in 
this state seized by the Otter. This species can be kept in confinement 
easily in a pond surrounded by a proper fence where a good supply of fish 
is procurable. 
On throwing some live fishes into a small pond in the Zoological 
Gardens in London, where an Otter was kept alive, it immediately 
plunged off the bank after them, and soon securing one, rose to the sur- 
face holding its prize in its teeth, and ascending the bank, rapidly ate it 
by large mouthfuls, and dived into the water again for another. This it 
repeated until it had caught and eaten all the fish which had been thrown 
into the water for its use. When thus engaged in devouring the luckless 
fishes the Otter bit through them, crushing the bones, which we could hear 
snapping under the pressure of its powerful jaws. 
When an Otter is shot and killed in the water, it sinks from the weight 
of its skeleton, the bones being nearly solid and therefore heavy, and the 
hunter consequently is apt to lose the game if the water be deep ; this 
animal is, however, usually caught in strong steel-traps placed and baited 
in its haunts ; if caught by one of the fore-feet, it will sometimes gnaw 
the foot off, in order to make its escape. 
Otters when caught young are easily tamed, and although their gait is 
ungainly, will follow their owner about, and at times are quite playful. 
We have on twm occasions domesticated the Otter. The individuals had 
been captured when quite young, and in the space of two or three days 
became as tame and gentle as the young of the domestic dog. They 
preferred milk and boiled corn meal, and refused to eat fish or meat of 
any kind, until they were several months old. They became so attached 
to us, that at the moment of their entrance into our study they commenced 
crawling into our lap — mounting our table, romping among our books and 
VOL. II. 2 
