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tion, and so admii-ably adapted to the purpose.-i for which they were 

 originally intended that no white man has yet been able to improve 

 upon either of them. Like the boomerang of the native Australian 

 they are i>erfect and insusceptible of improvement. 



In the act of sliding, the otter, after a few rapid jumps to gather 

 momentum, stretches himself at full length, with his front legs drawn 

 close to his sides, and his hinder legs stretched out on each side of bis 

 massive tail, and on liis belly down he goes, if the season be winter, 

 sometimes forty, fifty or a hundred yards, according to the height of 

 the hill. When the ground is free from snow the slides down the bank 

 are not usually more than twelve or fifteen feet. In travelling over 

 ice barely covered with snow or hoar frost the otter generally takes 

 three long bounds and then slides along the smooth and level surface a 

 distance of twenty feet, continuing this mode of travelling Tor miles. 

 The process of sliding appears as if it gave the animal a rest, as well 

 as its usual amusement, between each succession of jumps. 



On account of the shortness of its legs the otter makes very slow 

 progress in deep snow. If the snow has recently fallen and remains 

 in an unconsolidated state, if pursued, it dives under the surface and in 

 an incredibly short space of time may be seen popping up its head 

 twenty or thirty yards off to reconnoitre. After taking an observation 

 down it goes again, regulating its direction by the position of its 

 enemy. If the snow hH[)pens to be heavy and closely packed this 

 mode of })rogress fails and its movements are slow and labored. It 

 can then be easily overtaken by a man on foot ; but when overhauled 

 it makes a fierce resistance and a determined battle for its life. It is a 

 well-known fact to those acquainted with its history and habits that 

 the otter in its vvild state is fully as fierce, and, under any circumstances, 

 as courageous as a bulldog, and almost as skilled an adept at fighting. 

 Owing to its short legs, on land the gait of the otter is awkward, 

 although a little too fleet for the time of the fastest pedestrian. In , 

 water its motions are simply the perfection of ease, grace and elegance. 

 The lightning rapidity of its sinewy plunges is almost beyond belief 



In the pursuit of fish for food the otter does not tlepend entirely 

 upon its extraordinary speed; nor does it always catch its prey by 

 what might be called a tail on end race. It api)roaches its intended 



