(The Naturalist. 
FUR-BEARING ANIMALS-XVI. 
CANADA OTTER. 
Lutra Canadensis—SABINE. 
The range of the Otter extends over nearly 
the whole of North America, but it is no 
longer found abundantly in various parts 
where it formerly appeared in large numbers, 
It was once so common in tills part of the 
Champlain Valley, where now it is unknown, 
that Indians, French and English gave its 
name to our principal river. Length of the 
body of a large sized Otter, 2 feet, 5 inches ; 
of the tail, 17 inches; head of u globular 
form ; nose, blunt; canine teeth, prominent; 
ears, round, short; neck, long; body, long 
and cylindrical, set upon short and stout legs; 
feet, webbed to the nails ; tail, stout, gradu¬ 
ally tapering towards the extremity and flat¬ 
tened horizontally ; two small oval glands, at 
its base, secreting a fetid liquor. Fur, soft 
and dense, very line, shorter on the forehead 
and extremities; longer hairs, covering this, 
are glossy and rigid. Color, rich, dark, red¬ 
dish brown, of a lighter shade on under sur¬ 
face ; whitish about the throat and face. 
The Otter frequents running streams, large 
ponds and more sparingly, the shores of some 
of our groat lakes. It prefers waters which 
are clear, and makes a hole or burrow in the 
banks, the entrance to which is under water. 
The nest is largo and is made of an abun¬ 
dance of sticks, grasses and leaves, above and 
beyond the Influence of liigh water or fresh¬ 
ets. Here, it spends a great part of the day, 
and, being a very shy animal it is seldom 
seen ; here, in early Bpring, its young, usual¬ 
ly two in number, are brought forth. 
It is a swift swimmer and can overtake al¬ 
most any flsli and is exceedingly expert in 
catching them. It carries its booty held in 
its mouth, usually by the head, to the bank, 
where held with its forepaws it speedily eats 
itH prize and dives into the water for more. 
Although its food is generally some kind of 
fish, yet when unable to procure any, it eats 
frogs, mice, muskrats and the like. 
When attacked, the Otter is a tierce and 
desperate lighter, biting and snapping with 
energy and never yielding aa long as life re¬ 
mains. In regions where it is hunted with 
dogs, the latter seldom kill it unaided. When 
shot and killed m deep water, the hunter 
sometimes loses his game, as its bones are so 
nearly solid it sinks of its own weight. It is 
often caught: in steel traps, baited with tlsh 
and set some feet under water. In diving 
for the fish, it is caught by the nose or fore¬ 
paw, if by the latter and the trap is in too 
shallow water or unclogged, so the animal 
does not drown, it frequently escapes by 
gnawing olT its foot. The best place to set 
the trap is near one of its “slides,” where it 
craw Is out of t he water or at the foot of the 
“slides,” if that ends in water. Sometimes, 
unbaited, the trap is Set on one end of a log 
that is under water, the other end resting on 
the bank. The upper end of the log should 
be scented with otter musk. In endeavoring 
to mount the log, it is entrapped. Another 
good plan is directly under its feeding hole 
through the ice in winter, also at the mouth 
of its burrow. In all cases, as tills is a wily, 
keen-scented animal, it is necessary to re¬ 
move all suspicious traces hence, when pos¬ 
sible, it is well to set the trap from a boat or 
by wading. Otter fur is glossy and hand¬ 
some ; the price of a skin varies from ten to 
twelve dollars. 
Otters have a singular habit of amusement 
winch Goduan thus describesTheir fa¬ 
vorite sport is sliding, and for this purpose in 
winter the highest ridge of snow is selected, 
to the top of which the Otters scramble, 
where, lying on the belly, with the forefeet 
boat backward, they give themselves an im¬ 
pulse with their hind legs and swiftly glide 
headforemost down the declivity, sometimes 
for the distance of twenty yards. This sport 
they continue, apparently with the keenest 
enjoyment until hunger or fatigue induces 
them to desist.'' These slides, in summer, are 
often made in clayey slopes along the banks 
of rivCrs and ponds, and Audobon says, in 
the Southern States they are very common 
along the reserve dams of the rice fields ; he 
also says he once watched a pair of Otters, 
glide down the soap-like, muddy surface of 
a slide with the rapidity of an arrow from the 
bow, until each one had made twenty-two 
slides. 
Richardson says :—“This species has the 
habit of traveling to a great distauee through 
the snow in search of some rapid that has 
resisted the severity of winter frosts, and that 
if seen and pursued by hunters, on these 
journeys, it will throw itself forward on its 
belly and slide through the snow for several 
yards, leaving a deep furrow behind it, which 
movement is repeated with so much rapidity, 
that even a swift runner on snow shoes has 
some difficulty in overtaking it. He also re¬ 
marks it doubles on its track with much cun¬ 
ning and dives under the snow to elude its 
pursuers.” 
The Otter is easily domesticated when tak¬ 
en young, and makes an affectionate and 
Strtoricttltura! 
FOREST PLANTING IN ILLINOIS. 
The report of H. K. ViCKROT, Orehardist 
and Gardener of the Illinois Industrial Uni- 
versity, who has had charge of the forest 
plantations thus far, show that he planted in 
1871, 7 acres with 14 species of forest trees, 
THE CA.NA.DA. OTTER. 
playful pet, following its master about with 
its awkward, ungainly step. In Europe it is 
said tame Otters are taught to catch fish for 
t heir owners, going out, catching and land¬ 
ing the fish with great rapidity and faithful¬ 
ness. R 
-- 
A BENEVOLENT DOG. 
The Oornhill Magazine has an interesting 
anecdote related of u large dog kept in Al¬ 
giers by Miss Emily Napier, daughter of 
Sin William Napier. This dog was sent 
ever}- morning to fetch bread from the 
baker’s and regularly brought home twelve 
rolls in a basket. At last it was observed 
that for several mornings there were only 
eleven rolls in t|ic basket. ; and, on watching 
the dog, Lie was found 1o stop on his way and 
bestow one roll oil a poor, sick and starving 
lady-clog, hidden, with her puppies, in a cor¬ 
ner, on the rood from the shop. The baker 
was then instructed, to put thirteen roils in 
the basket, after which the dog delivered the 
twelve faithfully fora few days, and then left 
all the thirteen in the basket—the token, as it 
proved, that his sick friend was convalescent, 
and able to dispense with liis charity. 
-- 
NOTES FOR NATURALISTS. 
Canary Nests .—As I see an inquiry in the 
Rural New-Yorker, for canaries’ nests, I 
send you my method, which I think very nice 
and warm. It is this ;—I get a brown bird’s, 
or ground bird’s, or any other kind of nest 
that Is made mostly of horse hair, scald it 
thoroughly and dry it; cover it all over with 
doth ; line with canton flannel. Thus I 
have a nice nest for birdie—one that she can¬ 
not pick tw pieces,— t. a. T, 
Foxes should be Cultivated not Hunted, 
says a “ Reformed Fox Hunter,” because 
they are comparatively harmless, and keep 
down the rabbits ; while since foxes have 
been hunted out of the country, rabbits have 
multiplied and become a pest to horticultur¬ 
ists. He says the damages done by foxes 
are far less than those done by rabbits. Fox 
hunters, (by racing through the fields and 
throwing down fences), are more damage to 
the farmer than the loses themselves. 
Neats for Cuunries .—In answer to L. B’s 
inquiries, “ How to make a nest for Canary 
Birds,” I get a cocoanut and cut it in two; 
then 1 make holes in one of the pieces near 
the top, I put cotton or some soft material 
in the bottom, and sew a stout piece of cloth 
over it, leaving it loose so as to make a cavity 
for the nest. Sattie Moore. 
Species, No 
Ault Green. 
. Trees. 
Per Cent. 
Living. 
Urowtft, 
Inches. 
1,360 
98 
6 
Asti White. 
14,974 
95 
6 
C:i lu Ilia.. 
Klin White. 
1,361 
100 
12 
680 
100 
12 
Chestnut.. 
1.31U 
50 
0 
Larch European. ..10,690 
25 
6 
Maple White. 
OSJ 
98 
12 
Gauge Orange . 
1,861 
68(1 
98 
24 
Line Austrian. 
2 
— 
Pine Scotch. 
680 
2 
— 
Walnut White. 
1,361 
99 
6 
Willow White .... 
1,361 
98 
24 
Pine While, 1872... 
2,722 
20 
3 
Spruce N’rw'y“_ 
1,301 
98 
3 
Tile Cululpa, WbSte Elm, White Walnut, 
Green Ash, White Maple, Osage Orange, 
White Willow and Norway Spruce were not 
diminished in numbers to exceed 2 per cent, 
although most of them were planted in the 
very dry season of 1871; but the Austrian 
and Scotch Pines were about annihilated and 
the European Larch and Chestnut made but 
a poor showing. The Osage Orange and 
White Willow made the best growth, and 
stand just even in vitality and vigor, while 
the timber of one is of little value and that 
of the other among the best. 
The cost of an acre of each of three species 
of trees up to the end of the first year, includ¬ 
ing cost of trees, planting and cultivation, is 
as follows; 
Ash Green.$161.38 
A»b Wliile. 69.16 
OiuUiiu. Itl.SU 
Elm White. 91.12 
Chestnut . H2.86 
Lurch European. 63.86 
Maple White.146.78 
usage Orange. 40.U8 
Pine Austrian. 119.36 
Pine Scotch. 149.16 
Walnut White. 99.91 
Willow White. 56.36 
Pine White. 144.34 
Spruce Norway. 190.04 
The most costly tree, it will be seen, is the 
Norway Spruce, next to which stands the 
Chestnut and the Green Ash, and the two 
other evergreens, the Austrian and Scotch 
Pines, for which a comparatively high price 
has to be paid. 
The cheapest tree is the Osage Orange, next 
to which come the White Willow, European 
Larch and White Ash. Thus the Osage Or- 
ange was not only one of the healthiest and 
fastest growers, but also the cheapest, mak¬ 
ing three points in favor of that species. 
e Cost 
i. Per Acre. 
$174.48 
75.89 
134.38 
116.12 
166.38 
97.47 
151.60 
65.98 
302.26 
260.76 
122.34 
79.(16 
round in the 
I comprising 740 trees of 1, 2 and 3 years of 
age, and in 1872, Iff acres more with 4,083 
trees making a total of 40,832 trees, or, in¬ 
cluding 4,000 Larch, 1,000 Austrian and 1,000 
Scotch Fine replanted. 40,832 trees. All the 
trees except the Evergreens were planted 2x4 
ft., or 5,444 trees to the acre. The evergreens 
were planted 4x4 ft. or 2,722 trees to the acre. 
The following table, compiled from the 
more detailed report of Air. Viceroy, gives 
the species planted, the number of trees of 
each, the percentage living and the average 
growth of the trees planted in the first year. 
Coming now to the second year, 1872, we 
I make the following table of the species two 
years planted, showing the per cent, living, 
the average growth, and the cost of an acre 
of each to the close of the year 1872, includ¬ 
ing cost of tree planting, re-planting and cul¬ 
tivation : 
Percent. Average Cost 
Species, Lirtna. O-rowth. Per Acre. 
Ash Green. 98 30 $174.48 
Ash White. 93 36 75.88 
Catalan.100 48* 134.38 
Elm White.....100 42* 116.12 
CbeHtnnt. 4 — 166.38 
Larch European. 30 24 97.47 
Maple White.,. 98 48 151.60 
UMige Orange. 98 66* 65.98 
fine Austrian. 80 4 302.26 
Pine Scotch.. 20 4 260.76 
Walnut White. 99 24 122.34 
Willow White. 98 48 79.06 
♦ These varieties were eat to the ground in the 
spring, in order to get a straight growth. 
The most expensive acres are those set with 
evergreens, but, compared with the results 
obtained, the Chestnut has proved the less 
satisfactory. The cheapest tree as well as 
the most vigorous is still the Osage Orange 
with the White Ash and White Willow suc¬ 
ceeding it. 
If we may regard the ratio of percentage 
of living plants as the “survival of the fit¬ 
test” the argument is strong against the 
| planting of conifers,, excepting the Norway 
Spruce, for forests in our Champaign county, 
and overwhelmingly against the Chestnut. 
Mr. Viceroy is of the opinion however, that 
if the Chestnut trees were protected for a 
time by other trees they would succeed. 
The showing thus far is also strongly in 
favor of the Usage Orange and White Ash, 
both Valuable timber trees, and rather 
against the White Willow and White Maple, 
trees that have been encouraged because of 
their supposed easy and rapid growth. 
Many more yearn however, will be needed 
to settle these questions conclusively. 
W. a Flagg. 
-- 
ARBORICULTURAL QUERIES. 
You will confer a favor on many interest¬ 
ed by you or your readers answering the fol¬ 
lowing questions, viz:—1. When is the best 
time in t.ne spi-ing to Bet out peach, pear, ap¬ 
ricot and cherry trees that were l.celed-in in 
tits fall, and the best kind uf land for them i 
2. When is the most suitable t i me to prune 
an old orchard (apple) ? 3. When is the best 
time to remove strawberries to reset t —A. H. 
W., Ml. Gilead, 0. 
1. Just as early as the soil can be worked, 
that is, plowed or handled readily with the 
spade. There is little danger of planting too 
early. The best soil for pear trees is a firm 
clay or clay loam. Cherry trees will usually 
succeed either in heavy or light soils, pro 
vided it is rich. For Beach and Apricots we 
should prefer a light, rich loam, and have 
this in a high, airy location. 
2. Whenever it is convenient to do it, the 
particular time of year not being us import¬ 
ant as the manner of doing it. If pruned 
early, before the leaves appear, the trees will 
probably make a better growth than if the 
operation is delayed until summer. In prun¬ 
ing young trees in the morning, there may be 
some preference in regard to time of year, 
for the object in pruning is somewhat differ¬ 
ent ; there need to bo no fear about perform 
irig the operation at tlie wrong time. We 
prefer to prune very early in spring, or as 
soon as the leaves are l'ully developed. 
3. The best time to plant the strawberry is 
as soon aa freezing weather is past in spring. 
Upon this fruit there is very little difference 
of opinion among small fruit culturists. 
--- 
THE C'ATALPA FOR TIMBER. 
The eatalpa is one of our most rapid-grow¬ 
ing trees while young; after ten or fifteen 
years of age it increases in size very slowly, 
and is only a small tree at maturity. Of late 
we have noticed that it lias been recom¬ 
mended for planting on the Western prairies ; 
and while we do not hesitate to say that the 
Catalpa would be a valuable tree for pro¬ 
ducing fuel, fence-posts, and other purposes 
where small and durable timber is required, 
still it must' be remembered that it is a native 
of warm climates, and will not endure severe 
cold ; for it is frequently winter-killed even 
in the vicinity of New York City, especially 
when planted on rich soils, where it makes a 
rapid growth. The young branches are also 
very brittle, and if planted in prairie regions 
it should be set in large groups or intermixed 
with other kinds of trees, in order to be 
somewhat protected against strong winds. 
The wood is quite firm and hard for so rapid 
a growing tree, and is also quite durable 
when used for posts or other similar purposes. 
We think this tree is wort hy of trial on the 
Western plains, but. would advise its planting 
onlv in an experimental way ut first, for it 
may succeed in 006 locality and entirely fail 
in another not far distant. The trees are 
readily propagated cither from seed or cut¬ 
tings of the roots, also from cuttings of the 
branches, if planted in moist soils. 
