94: Mustelid^. MAMMALIA. Mustelid^. 
balls — the smooth, close, glossy fur — the broad rudder- 
forming tail — and the short, web-footed, fin-like limbs, 
— all combine to show its singular adaptiveness to the 
fluviatile and lacustrine haunts, where in ceaseless 
activity it despoils the waters of their abounding 
piscine treasures ! Noiselessly it glides through the 
liquid medium, rivalling, surpassing, and overcoming 
the finny tribes ; and one by one the latter fall victims 
to his trenchant grasp ! In succession each captive is 
hurried to the bank, forthwith torn asunder, and the 
head severed in a moment’s time ! All this is common 
testimony which none will dispute. The common otter 
is, indeed, extremely voracious, and will destroy an 
incredible quantity of fish ; for, when the latter are 
abundant, he has no sooner detached and devoured the 
head, and it maybe a small additional portion of the body, 
than off he starts again, as if for the mere pleasure of the 
chase. Speaking of this animal’s habits, Mr. Bell also 
observes that “ the otter avails itself of any convenient 
excavation, particularly of the hollows beneath the 
overhanging roots of trees which grow on the banks of 
rivers, or any other secure and concealed hole near its 
fishing haunt ; though in some cases it fixes its retreat 
at some distance from the water, and, when driven by 
a scanty supply of fish, it has been known to resort far 
inland to tiie neighbourhood of the farmyai'd, and 
attack lambs, sucking-pigs, and poultry — thus assuming 
for a time the habits of its more terrestrial congeners. 
It is asserted by some that the otter confines itg haunts 
to the rivers and lakes, never descending to the sea. 
This, however, is a mistake. In the northern parts of 
Scotland they certainly frequent the sea, and extend 
their rambles to a considerable distance from the 
shore ; and Mr. Couch of Polperro, states that “ in the 
summer, and when the weather will permit, it occupies 
a retired and quiet station where the land stretches into 
the ocean. It swims low in the water, and will go a 
mile or more after its pre3\ The neighbourhood of a popu- 
lous harbour is a frequent station. Fishesj” continues 
Mr. Couch, “seem to have an instinctive dread of the 
otter; for I am credibly informed that it has been seen to 
collect into a shoal a vast number of trouts in a river, 
and to drive them before until the greater part have 
thrown themselves on shore.” The otter has likewise 
its enemies. In former times the sport of otter hunting 
was much sought after in this country, as indeed it 
probablj' would also be at the present day, if those 
animals were onl^' more abundant. In certain parts of 
Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, otters are still tolerably 
numerous ; but if they were allowed to increase Avith- 
out anj' check, the more delicate sport of the fly-fisher 
would be seriously compromised. One of the most 
interesting facts connected with this persecuted animal 
is, that with care it may, when taken young, be com- 
pletely domesticated, and not only become an agreeable 
companion, but even lend a hand to its master, should 
he be a fisherman in the ordinaiy sense of the term. 
In Sweden, the employment of this animal in the cap- 
ture of fish appears to be no uncommon circumstance ; 
and an instance has been recorded of an otter which 
captured eight or ten salmon in a single da}'. Accord- 
ing to Mr. Bell, the following is a method of training 
recommended : — “ They should be procured as young 
as possible, and they are at first fed with small fish and 
water. Then bread and milk is to be alternated with 
the fish, and the proportion of the former gradually 
increased till they are led to live entirely on bread and 
milk. They are then taught to fetch and carry, 
exactly as dogs are trained to the same trick ; and 
when they are brought to do this with ease and docility, 
a leather fish stuffed with wool is employed for the 
purpose. They are afterwards exercised Avith a dead 
fish, and chastised if they disobey or attempt to tear it ; 
and finally, they are sent into the Avater after living 
ones. In this AA'ay, although the process is someAvhat 
tedious, it is believed that the otter may be certainly 
domesticated, and rendered subservient to our use.” 
Independent, moreover, of their value as purveyors of 
fish, .several accounts go to prove that, in the tame 
state, they become tractable, docile, and even amusing 
creatures. In the early spring of the year the female 
produces from three to five young at a birth. The 
flesh has a coarse fishy flavour, and is not considered 
good eating. 
THE AMERICAN OTTER {Lutra americana) is a 
much larger species than the above. The body is 
three feet and a half in length, exclusive of the tail, for 
Avhich Ave must reckon other eighteen inches. Tlie fur 
is of a rich brown colour, not only on the back, but 
also underneath the belly ; differing in this latter par- 
ticular from the European species, which is lighter 
below. According to Hearne, the fur is nearly black 
in the summer, but in the Avinter it assumes the charac- 
teristic chocolate broAvn, a greyish spot being placed 
under the chin. This form of otter is widely distributed 
throughout tlie North American continent. Sir John 
Richardson states that it closely resembles the common 
otter in its habits and food. “ In the Avinter season it 
frequents rapids and falls, to have the advantage of 
open water; and Avhen its usual haunts are frozen 
over, it Avill travel to a great distance through the snoAv 
in search of a rapid that has resisted the severity of 
the weather. If seen and pursued by hunters on these 
journeys, it will throAV itself forward on its belly, and 
slide through the snow for several yards, leaving a 
deep furroAv behind it. This movement is repeated 
Avith so much rapidity, that even a SAvift runner on 
snoAV shoes has much trouble in overtaking it. It also 
doubles on its track with much cunning, and dives 
under the snoAV to elude its pursuers. When closely 
pressed, it Avill turn and defend itself Avith great obsti- 
nacy. In the spring of 1826 , at Great Bear Lake, the 
otters frequently robbed our nets, Avhich Avere set under 
the ice, at a distance of a few yards from a piece of 
open Avater. They generally carried off the heads of 
the fish, and left the bodies sticking in the net.” This 
last-named habit strikingly accords Avith AA'hat we hav'e 
above remarked in regard to the common species, and 
it explains the extraordinary amount of destruction 
Avhich these animals are knoAvn to create among fishes. 
The female American otter produces from one to three 
young at a single birth. The fur is of an excellent 
texture and quality, but its value is deteriorated by the 
circumstance of its being rather short; nevertheless, 
several thousand skins are annually imported into this 
country. In the list of Mustelidse contained in the 
