The Canada Otter 831 



well as how capable they are of performing actions which have 

 no other object than that of pleasure or diversion." 



"This statement," say Audubon and Bachman," "is con- 

 firmed by * * * recent writers who have given the history of 

 this species, and is in accordance within our own personal 

 observations. 



"The Otters ascend a bank suitable for their diversion, 

 and sometimes where it is very steep, so that they are obliged 

 to make quite an effort to gain the top; they slide down in 

 rapid succession where there are many at a sliding place. On 

 one occasion we were resting ourselves on the bank of Canoe 

 Creek, a small stream near Henderson, which empties into the 

 Ohio, when a pair of Otters made their appearance and, not 

 observing our proximity, began to enjoy their sliding pastime. 

 They glided down the soap-like muddy surface of the slide 

 with the rapidity of an arrow from a bow, and we counted 

 each one making 22 slides before we disturbed their sportive 

 occupation. 



"This habit of the Otter of sliding down from elevated in all 



- . LATI- 



places to the borders of streams is not confined to cold countries, tudes 

 or to slides on the snow or ice, but is pursued in the Southern 

 States, where the earth is seldom covered with snow, or the 

 waters frozen over. Along the reserve dams of the rice-fields 

 of Carolina and Georgia these slides are very common. From 

 the fact that this occurs in most cases during the winter, about 

 the period of the rutting season, we are inclined to the belief 

 that this propensity may be traced to those instincts which lead 

 the sexes to their periodical associations." 



Kennicott follows with these remarks;'' "It climbs to 

 the top of some steep bank, made slippery by the mud and 

 water from its own body, or, in winter, by snow and ice, and, 

 lying down, with its fore-feet bent under, slides headlong to the 

 bottom. Trappers inform me that they have often seen the 

 Otter thus engaged for an hour or more, scrambling eagerly 

 to the top again after each descent, and greatly enjoying the 

 sport. By using their knowledge of this peculiarity, the hunters 



" Q. N. A., 1849, Vol. II, p. 8. " Quad, 111., 1859, pp. 247-8. 



