MAMMALS OF MINNESOTA. 131 



"The Otters ascend the bank at a place 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 ourself 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 twenty two slides before we dis- 

 turbed their sportive occupation. 



"This habit of the' Otter of sliding down from elevated 

 places to the borders of streams, is not confined to cold coun- 

 tries, 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 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." 



The food of the Otter, and the manner in which it is pro- 

 cured, are noted by the same author in the following terms: 



"The Otter is a very expert swimmer, and can overtake 

 almost any fish, and as it is a voracious animal, it doubtless 

 destroys a great number of fresh water fishes annually. We 

 are not aware of its having a preference for any particular 

 species, although it is highly probable that it has. About 

 twenty-five years ago we went early one autumnal morning to 

 study the habits of the Otter at Gordon and Spring's Ferry, 

 on the Cooper River, six miles above Charleston [S. C.], where 

 they were represented as being quite abundant. They came 

 down with the receding tide in groups or families of five or six 

 together. In the space of two hours we counted forty -six. 

 They soon separated, ascended the different creeks in the salt 

 marshes, and engaged in capturing mullets (Mugil). In most 

 cases they came to the bank with a fish in their mouth, des- 

 patching it in a minute, and then hastened back again after 

 more prey. They returned up the river to their more secure 

 retreats with the rising tide. In the small lakes and ponds of 

 the interior of Carolina, there is found a favourite fish with the 

 Otter, called the fresh- water trout (Grystes salmoides). 



*[ A statement certainly too figurative for literal acceptation."] 



