What guesses did the Londoners make about what Mij was?
The Londoners made a variety of wild and amusing guesses about what Mij was because they could not recognise an otter. They guessed several animals from the Mustellines group, such as a badger, mongoose, weasel, stoat, and mink.
Other random guesses included a baby seal, a squirrel, a walrus, and a hippo. Someone even mistook Mij for a beaver, a bear cub, a leopard that had changed its spots, and hilariously, a brontosaur. Ultimately, Mij was called everything but an otter.
Explanation
The textbook highlights the ignorance of the average Londoner regarding otters. They made a continuous barrage of conjectural questions, guessing almost every other animal from the Mustellines family and beyond, which greatly amused the author.