oo ANIMAL LIFE UNDER WATER 



at the tail of the pool, and then for some distance 

 paddled on the surface ; simultaneously, as if at 

 a given signal, mother and cubs dived. At first 

 they continued, to use both hind and fore limbs 

 until they had gained sufficient way, then the fore 

 -legs were laid back on the chest, and each beast 

 continued to propel itself with powerful strokes 

 of the hind legs alone. In this manner the 

 otters advanced in line along the bottom, in- 

 clining their course to right or left by the 

 occasional stroke of one or other of the fore 

 paws. Suddenly a sea trout shot away in front 

 of them. Experience had taught these fishers 

 that their prey would take shelter under a 

 boulder; in consequence, they now entirely 

 altered their tactics, and, with hind legs ex- 

 tended on either side of the tail, they paddled 

 with the fore paws alone, and in this way 

 diligently searched under each stone. 



It was the dog that flushed the fish, which, 

 like a flash, shot downstream. At once, with a 

 swish of the hindquarters, he turned as if on a 

 pivot and dashed after the trout. Now he struck 

 out with all four limbs, and twisted and turned 

 more like an eel than an animal as he swam over 

 boulder and under shelving rock. 



