POAETQUISSINGS IN WINTER. 59 



in the river, is not an interesting object. Possiblj, 

 aware that to be seen is to be persecuted, it keeps out 

 of sight as much as possible, and it has puzzled me to 

 know how the animal was recognized. I have never 

 seen them clamber up on the firm ice, or show an inch 

 more of their bodies than their round heads, that bobbed 

 about like cocoanuts, and then were gone for a long 

 time. Possibly the old fishermen that linger about the 

 river, long after any chance for fishing has gone by, con- 

 stantly bear in mind the possibility of their finding a 

 seal, and so report every seal -like object to be one. 

 In such a case, if there does happen to be one about, it 

 is pretty sure to be recognized, reported, persecuted, and 

 killed. 



Other mammals also wander into and over the frozen 

 river, and it is no unlikely occurrence to meet with ot- 

 ters, musk-rats, minks, and even meadow-mice, that have 

 wandered far from the river shore and seem bent on some 

 important errand. Of course, the presence of the otter is 

 readily explained, for there is often a vast number of 

 fishes in the patches of open water, upon which the ani- 

 mals feed. The same may be said of the mink ; but 

 why mice should undertake to cross the river on the ice 

 is by no means clear; unless it be the peculiar disposi- 

 tion of these creatures to migrate in bodies, from one 

 spot to another. 



It is when the river is frozen that, in all probability, 

 grebes will be seen swimming on and diving into the pools 

 that dot the frozen surface of the stream. Would these 

 birds be content to act with some deliberation, it would 



