WHAT IS AN AMPHIBIOUS ANIMAL? 
angry was out of the question, as the owner insisted upon 
it that it was amphibious, and in proof of his assertion 
pointed out that it was up to its middle in water, and 
that it passed as much of its time in as out of water. 
With these facts, it was useless to offer any further argu- 
ment or opposition ; the owner certainly had the best of it. 
But the result always acted as a caution not too readily to 
rush off to see a new and unknown amphibious animal. 
How often do we find creatures that have never been 
suspected of frequenting water quite at home in that 
element. Looking at the great South American ant-eater 
{Myrniccophaga jubata), a more unlikely beast never was 
seen ; yet into the river he goes, and washes, and swims, 
and plays about for hours. Who would expect any of the 
family of bats to be addicted to aquatic life ? Yet some 
species of this family have been met with, both in Africa 
and America, that are semi-aquatic. In the former country 
they feed on shrimps, and in the latter upon fish, which 
they catch in their sharp-hooked claws. 
How few animals are as helpless as man, when for the 
first time immersed in water ! Most wild animals swim, 
and that without teaching or learning of any kind. Man 
raises his arms in despair, sinks to the bottom helpless, 
overpowered and rendered incapable of offering that kind 
of resistance exhibited under the same circumstances by 
most of the lower animals. 
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