roots of some water-plants to eat. It makes very little motion or
disturbance in the water when it goes down in search of its prey. Its coat
is thick, and formed of two kinds of hair; the outer hair is long, silky,
and shining; the under part is short, fine, and warm. The water cannot
penetrate to wet them,--the oily nature of the fur throws off the
moisture. They dig large holes with their claws, which are short, but very
strong. They line their nests with dry grass and rushes and roots gnawed
fine, and do not pass the winter in sleep, as the dormice, flying
squirrels, racoons, and bears do. They are very innocent and playful, both
when young and even after they grow old. The lumberers often tame them,
and they become so docile that they will come at a call or whistle. Like
all wild animals, they are most lively at night, when they come out to
feed and play."

"Dear little things! I should like to have a tame otter to play with, and
run after me; but do you think he would eat my squirrel? You know cats
will eat squirrels--so mamma says."

"Cats belong to a very different class of animals; they are beasts of
prey, formed to spring and bound, and tear with their teeth and claws. The
otter is also a beast of prey, but its prey is found in the still waters,
and not on the land; it can neither climb nor leap. So I do not think he
would hurt your squirrel, if you had one."

"See, nurse, my dear little squirrel is still where I left him, clinging
to the wires of the cage, his bright eyes looking like two black beads."

"As soon as it grows dark he will begin to be more lively, and perhaps he
will eat something, but not while we look at him--he is too shy for that."