152 



EXTRACTS FROM NOTE-BOOKS. CH. XXIX. 



ately become soaked with wet, the bird not having 

 the power of keeping the feathers of the broken 

 part in the proper position to resist the entry of the 

 water. We all know that birds are able to elevate, 

 depress, and in fact to move their feathers in any 

 direction by a muscular contraction of the skin. 

 When this power ceases they hang loosely in every 

 direction, and the wet enters to the skin. 



The otter's skin never appears to be wet, how- 

 ever long the animal may remain in the water ; 

 but, like the plumage of birds, soon becomes soaked 

 through when the animal is dead. Whilst he is 

 alive the water runs off his hair exactly as it does 

 from the back of a bird during a shower. When 

 we find any bird or animal with its feathers or hair 

 wet and clinging together, it is a sure sign that the 

 poor creature is either diseased or is suffering from 

 some wound or accident. 



