I.UTRA CWNAPF-NSTS. 



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in winter, and go so fast tJKit a man has great difficulty in overtaking- 

 them. On the ice the)- [)roceecl by a series of what small l)oys call 

 " a run and a slide," that is, the\- make several jumps and then slide 

 ahead, flat on their bellies, as far as their inipetus and the smooth- 

 ness of the ice permit, and then do the same thino; over as^ain, and 

 so on. And this mode of prot^ression suggests a curious trait in the 

 character of the Otter, /. c, its fondness for sliding down hill. 1 )r. 

 John D. Godman, in his well-known work on " American Natural 

 Histor}'," speaks thus of the habit: "Their tavorite sport is sliding, 

 and for this purpose in winter the highest ridge ot snow is selected, 

 to the top of which the ( )tters scramble, where, hing on the belly 

 with the fore-feet l>ent liackwards, they give themselves an inipulse 

 with their hind legs and swiftly glide head-toremost down the decliv- 

 ity, sometimes for a distance of twenty yards. This sport the\- con- 

 tinue apparentl\- with the keenest enjo)-ment until fatigue or hunger 

 induces them to desist." This statement accords with the observa- 

 tions of Cartwright, Hearne, Richardson, Audubon, and others, and 

 the last-named author goes on to say that he once witnessed a pair 

 of Otters engaged in this pastime, only they were sliding down a 

 mud-bank instead of a snow-bank, and remarks: " we counted each 

 one making twent)--two sliiles Ijefore we disturbed their sportive 

 occupation." * The borders of the lakes and streams ot the Adiron- 

 dacks afford numerous e.\an-ij)les of these slides, and alsci of their 

 wallowing places, which are either level beds, or slight depressions, 

 in which they plaj- and roll. Ma)-'s Lake, a small and secluded body 

 of water, abounding in trout, is fairl\- surrounded by them. 



On the morning of October 27, iSSi, the Big Marsh at the head 

 of Ijig Moose Lake was frozen ox'er, with the exception of a narrow 

 strip along its north shore. While working our boat up between the 

 ice and the shore E. L. Sheppard and I noticed three Otters sijorting 

 in the open water ahead. They were diving and chasing one another 

 after the manner of so many seals. Several times did they jump so 



* (Juailiii|ie(K i)f Nortli Americ.i, Viil. II, 1S51, p. 8. 



