In winter, along the steep banks of the frozen streams, smooth and
shining tracks may be readily detected. They are produced by otters,
which have a curious habit of sliding downwards for their amusement--
much as human beings are accustomed to do in Canada in their toboggans.
To do this, they lie on their bellies, with their fore-legs bent
backwards, and giving themselves an impetus with their hind-legs, down
they glide, at a swift rate, upon the ice. This sport they will
continue for some time, climbing up again to the top of the bank, and
repeating the process over and over again. They are also accustomed to
pass through the woods from lake to lake, making a direct track in the
snow. These tracks are easily known. Then comes a broad trail, as if
made by a cart-wheel. This is formed by the animal throwing itself on
its belly, and thus sliding along over the surface for several yards.
These places are called "otter rubs."
There are two species of otter in North America--one on the east, and
the other on the Pacific slope--differing slightly from each other. The
former is considerably larger than that of the Old World, measuring,
from the nose to the tip of the tail, sometimes from four and a half to
five feet. Like most other water animals, it possesses two sorts of
hair: the one is long and shining, and of a rich brown colour, except on
the throat, which is of a dusky white; the other is very fine and soft,
lying next the skin, and serving to protect it from the extremes of heat
and cold. It has excessively sharp, short teeth, which enable it to
hold fast the fish, on which it chiefly feeds. Its body is elongated
and much flattened, and the tail, which is of great length, is also flat
and broad. The legs are short and strong, and so loosely jointed that
it can turn them in any direction when swimming.
The habitations of otters are formed in the banks of rivers or lakes,
and are not altogether of an artificial character, as they prefer
occupying any deserted hollow or natural crevice to the trouble of
digging burrows for themselves. Though they are very playful animals,
and delight apparently in sport, they are somewhat of a savage
disposition, and must be taken very young to be domesticated. They are
cautious, timid animals, and can seldom be approached unawares. They
eat all sorts of fresh-water fish, such as trout, perch, eels, and
suckers; and will also devour frogs. Occasionally they may be observed
on a rocky islet of some lone stream, resting after a banquet, or about
to plunge into the water in chase of one of the finny tribe, which their
keen eyes detect swimming by. They are trapped, in Canada, by steel
traps, which are submerged close to the bank below their "rubs." They
make a peculiar whistling sound, which the Indian can imitate perfectly,
and thus frequently induces them to approach. Their skins are
manufactured into muffs and trimmings and caps, such as are usually worn
in winter by Canadians.
An otter, when attacked, will defend itself with desperation, snapping
furiously at the Indian, and then shaking its head violently as a dog
does when destroying a rat. Their bite is severe--sufficient indeed to
snap off a man's finger--and when once its jaws are closed, no power is
capable of making it relinquish its grasp. The Canadians do not attempt
to tame the otter; but the persevering Chinese not only contrive to
domesticate the species found in their country, but teach them to
capture fish for their benefit.