The historie of foure-footed beastes Describing the true and liuely figure of euery beast, with a discourse of their seuerall names, conditions, kindes, vertues (both naturall and medicinall) countries of their breed, their loue and hate to mankinde, and the wonderfull worke of God in their creation, preseruation, and destruction. Necessary for all diuines and students, because the story of euery beast is amplified with narrations out of Scriptures, fathers, phylosophers, physitians, and poets: wherein are declared diuers hyerogliphicks, emblems, epigrams, and other good histories, collected out of all the volumes of Conradus Gesner, and all other writers to this present day. By Edward Topsell.

OF THE OTTER.

THere is no doubt but this beast is of the kind of Beuers, be∣cause [ 30] it liueth both on the Water and on the land, and the outward form of the parts beareth a similitude of that beast. The Italians doe vulgarly call this beast Lodra,* 1.1 and the Latines besides Lutra, Fluuiatulis Canicula, A Dogg of the Waters, and some cal them cats of the waters. The Italians besides Lodra call it also Lodria, and Lontra. The French Vne Loutre, or Vnge Loutre. The Sauoyans Vne Leure; the Spaniards Nutria, and the Ilyrians Widra▪ the Graecians Ly∣tra, because it shereth assunder the roots of the trees in the [ 40] bankes of the riuers. Some of the Graecians cal it enhydris, although properly that bee a snake liuing in the Waters, called by Theodorus and Hermolaus, Lutris. Albertus calleth it Luter, and Anadrz for Enydris. Also Boatus by Syluacicus, and the Graecians cal filthy and thicke waters Lutrai; for▪ which cause, when their Noble ancient Women went to bathe themselues in water,* 1.2 they were bound about with skinnes called Oan Loutrida, that is, a sheepes skin vsed to the water. The French men call the dung of an OTTER Espranite de loutres,* 1.3 the steppes of an OTTER Leise Marches, the whelpes of an OTTER Cheaux, by which word they call also the whelpes of Wolues, Foxes, and Badgers.

Although they be a kind of Beauer as we haue saide already, yet they neuer goe into [ 50] the Sea,* 1.4 and they abound almost in all Nations, where there are riuers or fish-pooles, as namely in Italy, France, Germany, Heluetia, England, and Scandiuania. Likewise in all SAR∣MATIA, in the bay of BORISTHINES. They are most plentifull in ITALY, where the Riuer PADVS is ioyned to the sea. Also they abound in NAPLES. Their outward forme is most like vnto a BEAVER,* 1.5 sauing in their taile, for the taile of a BEAVER is fish, but the taile of an OTTER is flesh. They are lesse then BEAVERS, some compare them vn∣to

[illustration]

[ 10] cat, and some vnto a Fox, but I cannot consent vnto the Fox.* 1.6 They are bigger then a cat and longer, but lesser then a Fox, and therfore in my opinion they are well called dogs of the water. They exceede in length, for in Swetia and all the Northern riuers they are three times so long as a Beauer. They haue a rough skin,* 1.7 and the haire of it very soft and neate, like the haire of a Beauer, but different in this, that it is shorter and vnequal, also of colour like a Ches-nut, or brownish, but the Beauers is white or ashe colour. It hath very [ 20] sharp teeth, and is a very biting beast, likewise short legs, and his feet and taile like a dogs, which caused Bellonius to write, that if his taile were off, he were in all parts like a Beauer, differing in nothing but his habitation. For the Beauer goeth both to the salt waters, and to the fresh, but the Otter neuer to the salt.

Although it liue in the waters, yet it doth no sucke in water, but aire; that is,* 1.8 it doth not breath like fishes through the benefit of water, and therefore it maketh his dens neer the water, wherein also they are wont to bring forth their young ones: They make their dens so artificially euen as the Beuer, with bowes, and sprigs, or sticks, couching together in excellent order, wherein he sitteth to keepe him from wetnesse. It hunteth fishes, and although it breatheth like another foure-footed-beast, yet will it remain a great while vn∣der the water without respiration, for the greedinesse of fishes it runneth many time into [ 30] nets which are set by men in waters to take fish, whereinto being entered,* 1.9 it is suffocated for want of breath, before it can sheare asunder the nets and make way for himselfe to come out.

For in the hunting of fish it must often put his nose aboue the water to take breath: it is of a wonderfull swiftnesse and nimblenesse, in taking his prey, and filleth his den so full of fishes that he corrupteth the aire, or men that take him in his den: and likewise infect∣eth himselfe with a pestilent and noysome sauour, whereupon as the Latins say of a stink∣ing fellow; he smels like a Goat, so the Germans say of the same; He smels like an Otter.* 1.10 In the winter time he comes out of the caues and waters to hunt vpon the land, wher finding [ 40] no other foode, he eateth fruits, and the barke of trees. Bellonius writeth thus of him,* 1.11 he keepeth in pooles and quiet waters and riuers, terrifieng the flockes of fish, and driuing them to the bank-sides in great number, to the holes and creekes of the earth, where hee taketh them more copiously, and more easie: but if he want prey in the waters, then doth he leape vpon the land, and eate vpon greene hearbs: he will swim two miles together a∣gainst the streame, putting himselfe to great labor in his hunger, that so when his belly is full, the currant of streame may carry him downe againe to his designed lodging.

The females nourish many whelps together at their vdders, vntill they be almost as big as themselues, for whom the hunters search, as for the dams among the leaues & boughes which the ouerflowings of waters in the winter time, haue gathered together and laide on [ 50] heapes It is a sharp-biting-beast, hurtfull both to men and dogs, neuer ceasing or loosing hold after he hath laid his mouth vpon them, vntill he make the bones to cracke betwixt his teeth, whereupon it was well said by Olaus Mag. Lutrae mordaces quadrato ore. Otters are most accomplished biters.

It is a very crafty and subtill beast, yet it is sometimes tamed, and vsed in the Northern parts of the world, especially in Scandinauia to driue the fishes into the fisher mens nets:

[illustration]

for so great is the sagacity and scence of smeling in this beast, that he can directly winde the fishes in the waters a mile or two off, and therefore the Fishers make great aduantage of them, yet doe they forbeare his vse because he deuoureth more then needeth, for he is neuer so ta¦med that he forgeteth his old rauening, being tamed, on the lande he is very full of sport and game. I maruaile how it [ 10] came into the writers heads to affirme, that the Beauer constraineth the Otter in the winter time, to trouble the water about her taile, to the intent it may not frieze, which opinion we haue confuted already in the discourse of the Beauer, for herein I agree with Albertus. Fiber fortior est lutra, & acutissimis dentibus, qua propter eam vel expellit, vel occidit. The Beauer is much stronger then the [ 20] Otter, hauing also most sharp teeth, and therfore either expelleth her out of the waters, because they liue both vpon one kind of food, or else destroys her: where¦fore it is vnreasonable to beleeue that he preserueth her to keepe his taile from freezing. The flesh of this beast is both cold and filthy, because it feedeth vpon stinking fish, and therefore not fit to be eaten. Tragus writeth that this notwith∣standing [ 30] is dressed to bee eaten in many places of Germany, and I hear that the Carthusian Fryers or Monkes (whether you wil) which are forbidden to touch al manner of flesh, of other foure-footed-beasts, yet they are not prohibited the eating of Otters.* 1.12 These Otters are hun∣ted with speciall Dogges, called Otter-Houndes, and also with speciall instru∣ments called Otter-speares, hauing ex∣ceeding [ 40] sharp points: for they are hard¦ly taken, and beasts doe not willingly set vpon them, specially in the waters: when they feele themselues to bee wounded with the speare, then they come to land, where they fight with the dogs very ire∣fully, and except they be first wounded, they forsake not the waters: for they are not ignorant how safe a refuge the Wa¦ters are vnto them, and how vnequall a [ 50] combat they shall sustaine with men and dogs vppon the lande, yet because the cold water anoyeth their green wounds, therefore they spin out their liues to the length of the thread, chusing rather to die in tor∣ments among dogs, then to die in the waters. There is a kind of Assa called Benioyn, a strong hearb which being hung in a linnen cloth near fish-ponds, driueth away al Otters & Beuers. The hair of the skin is most soft, neither doth it leese his beauty by age; for which cause as also

for that no raine can hurt it when it is well dressed, it is of great price and estimation,* 1.13 and is sold for seuen or eight shillings: thereof also they make fringes in the hems of gar∣ments, and face about the collers of men and Womens garments, and the skinne of the OTTER is farre more pretious then the skinne of the BEAVER; and for this cause the SVETIAN merchants do transport many into MOSCOVIA and TARTARIA for clokes and other garments.

Thereof also in Germany they make caps, or else line other caps with them, and also make stocking-soles; affirming that they bee good and wholsome against the Palsie,* 1.14 the megrim, and other paines of the head. The bloud of an OTTER is prescribed against [ 10] the swelling of the Nerues. The Liuer dryed in an Ouen against the bloody-flixe, and against the collick being drunke in wine. The stones are also prescribed to be giuen against the falling sicknesse and all paines in the belly. And thus much for the OTTER.

There be certaine beastes which are kindes of OTTERS, which because they liue in the Waters, and yet being vnknowne to vs in England, I haue thought good to expresse them in this place by their Greeke and Latine names. In the first place that which the Graecians call Latax, broader and thicker then an Otter, and yet liueth in the Waters or else goeth to the waters for his food, yet breatheth aire and not water like Otters. The haire of this beast is very harsh, betwixt the similitude of a Sea-Calfe and a Hart, and it hath also strong and sharp teeth, wherewithal in the night season they shere asunder smal boughes and twigs: It is called also Fastoz, Lamyakyz, and Noertza.

[ 20] There is another called Satyrium, and Fassuron, and Chebalus, whose skin is black, and very pretious and very much vsed for the edging of the best garments, these liue also in ponds, lakes, and still waters.

There is a third kinde called Satherium, Kacheobeon, and Kachyneen, and Martarus, ha∣uing a white throate, and being as bigge as a Cat; and finally vnto these may be added Porcos, a foure-footed-beaste liuing in the Waters in the Riuer Isther: And Maesolus ano∣ther foure-footed-beast liuing in some Ryuers of INDIA, being as big as a Calfe.

Notes

• * 1.1

  of the na••es 〈…〉〈…〉 thereof.
• * 1.2

  Stephanus
• * 1.3

  Pliny.
• * 1.4

  The places o•• ••heir ••bod
• * 1.5

  Hermo••aus.
• * 1.6

  Olaus.
• * 1.7

  The seuerall parts.
• * 1.8

  The framing of their den.
• * 1.9

  His prey and foode.
• * 1.10

  Agricola.
• * 1.11

  Albertus.
• * 1.12

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉.
• * 1.13

  Albertus
• * 1.14

  Vse of their Skins▪