74 
No. 18.—THE OTTER POND. 
The American Otter (.Lutra canadensis ) has a general 
range throughout North America, though to a less extent 
and in fewer numbers than formerly, owing to the great de¬ 
mand for the beautiful fur obtained from them. Like their 
relative, the Brown Mink (Putorius vison ), they are largely 
aquatic in habit and live chiefly upon fish, which they catch 
with ease and devour in incalculable numbers. They are 
lively, sportive animals, and the visitor will find much amuse¬ 
ment in watching their gambols in the pond set apart for them. 
In a wild state they have a curious means of diversion, 
which is thus described by Godman :— 
“ Their favorite sport is sliding, and for this purpose in winter the high¬ 
est ridge of snow is selected, to the top of which the Otters scramble, 
where, lying on the belly with the fore-feet bent backwards, they give 
themselves an impulse with the 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 fatigue 
or hunger induces them to desist.” 
Otter are not easy to capture uninjured, and it is with 
difficulty that a sufficient number is obtained for the collec¬ 
tion. The European species (Lutra lutra), is closely similar 
to our own. 
No. 16.—THE BUFFALO PENS. 
The American Bison or Buffalo (Bison bison). The So¬ 
ciety possesses one of the finest herds of these animals now 
remaining. 
Of the geographical distribution of this species, past and 
present, Prof. J. A. Allen treats as follows in a “ History of 
the American Bison,” published by the Department of the 
Interior in 1877 : — 
“ The habitat of the Bison formerly extended from Great Slave Lake, 
on the north, in latitude about 62°, to the north-eastern provinces of 
Mexico, as far south as latitude 25 0 . Its range in British North America 
extended from the Rocky mountains on the west to the wooded highlands 
about six hundred miles west of Hudson’s Bay, or about to a line running 
south-eastward from the Great Slave Lake to the Lake of the Woods. Its 
range in the United States formerly embraced a considerable area west of 
