THE OTTER. 125 



apart during the night, and next morning he 

 was gone 1 



PLAYFULNESS. 



When in danger an otter presses his throat 

 close to the ground, evidently for protection ; and 

 the habit of sliding is peculiar to this animal. 

 In regions where otters are abundant and un- 

 disturbed by man they have recognised sliding- 

 places, where a number of them unite for social 

 amusement. A high, steep bank at the water's 

 edge is chosen, preferably where the ground is 

 of clay formation. First of all, such obstacles as 

 stones and roots are removed from the selected 

 site. The otters then slide down the bank into 

 the water, several of them joining in the game, 

 their smooth, wet fur soon imparting a frictionless 

 surface to the clay, so that the game becomes 

 hotter and faster. 



Normally, otters have abundant time for play, 

 spending hours together rolling and tumbling 

 in the water much as kittens play on dry land. 

 Indeed, they are among the most light-hearted and 

 peaceful of beasts, being much attached to one 

 another, and desirous of avoiding unpleasantness 

 of any kind. 



Otters emerge into the open shortly after dusk, 

 which is their recognised feeding-time. For an 

 hour or so they are busy fishing, and the rest 

 of the night is spent in sportive gambols. An 

 otter comes to know every current and backwash 

 of its home-waters, and all these mighty forces 

 it moulds to its will. First swimming idly up- 

 stream, it then stretches itself luxuriously in the 

 central race, and drifting, drifting, is borne under 

 the stars over the edge of the waterfall, down, 



