SWIMMERS 



the speed attained must be something startUng, 

 • though only for a few yards, especially on an icy 

 snow crust. 



The slides that I have been describing, of 

 which there are four or five, are all on tide-water 

 streams which remain open long after the fresh 

 waters are frozen over, which may account for 

 their popularity. Whenever an otter is travel- 

 ling across lots through the snow, and comes to 

 an incline of sufficient steepness, he takes advan- 

 tage of it and slides to the bottom, just as a fox 

 or mink will ; but I have never known them to 

 amuse themselves by repeatedly sliding down 

 the same snow-bank unless there was open water 

 at its foot. 



In cold weather they spend most of their time 

 beneath the ice, after the manner of muskrats, 

 and are said to be fond of forcing their way up 

 little brooks hardly large enough to admit them, 

 probably driving all the fish before them, or 

 snapping up those that try to get by. 



149 



