SWIMMERS CONCLUDED 



stream, he commenced diving in deep water, 

 remaining several minutes beneath the surface 

 each time, and usually coming up about a rod 

 from where he went down. He dived with a 

 peculiarly easy rolling motion, and his fur, which 

 was in splendid condition, looked dry and glossy 

 in the sunlight whenever it was out of water for 

 an instant. He looked at me deliberately sev- 

 eral times, but, in spite of the fact that I was 

 walking about openly within fifteen yards of him, 

 showed no alarm at my presence. Whatever he 

 was diving for, he evidently was not very suc- 

 cessful, and leaving him still at it I strolled on 

 between the trunks of the pines. 



There is a bridge of rough stones across the 

 mouth of Great" Swamp Run, but the opening 

 has become partly filled by falling stones and 

 earth, and more water flows over it than beneath 

 it. As I was crossing, I saw a muskrat crouch- 

 ing in the grass on the shore of a little island 

 eight or ten rods away. Presently he stretched 



189 



