2 7 
aquatic in habit and live chiefly upon fish, which they catch 
with ease and devour in incalculable numbers. They are 
lively, sportive animals, and the visitor will find much amuse¬ 
ment in watching their gambols in the tank set apart for them. 
In a wild state they have a curious means of diversion, 
which is thus described by Godman :—“ Their favorite sport 
is sliding, and for this purpose in winter the highest ridge of 
snow is selected, to the top of which the Otters scramble, 
where, lying on the belly with the fore-feet bent backwards, 
they give themselves an impulse with the hind legs and swiftly 
glide headforemost down the declivity, sometimes for the dis¬ 
tance of twenty yards. This sport they continue apparently 
with the keenest enjoyment, until fatigue or hunger induces 
them to desist.” A pair of otter brought to the Garden from 
Newfoundland, were quite tame and were allowed the run of 
the hold of the schooner. During the trip, a quantity of 
snow which fell on the decks was shoveled through the hatch¬ 
way, when, much to the amusement of the crew, the animals 
began piling it up and packing it until they had built a slide, 
on which they disported themselves in the manner described. 
The Muskrat ( Fiber zibethicus) of North America, which 
by its subterranean galleries causes so much damage to the 
banks of canals and other artificial bodies of water, will be 
found here. Its habits are somewhat similar to those of the 
beaver. 
The Common Crow ( Corvus americanus ) and the Raven 
( Corvus carnivorus ) are the leading American members of the 
family Corvidce, represented in England by the magpie. 
The fine pair of mysterious-looking Ravens in one of the 
cages on this walk were the gift of William Wister, Esq., and 
formed the nucleus of the collection. As they are very long- 
lived, it is probable that they will see greater changes in their 
surroundings than they have yet done. They are found 
throughout North America, although east of the Mississippi 
they have become rare. 
The Fisher, or Pennant’s Marten (. Mustelapennantii ), 
affords an example of a very prevalent and deplorable confu¬ 
sion among the vernacular names of animals, which is the 
cause of most erroneous ideas with regard to the habits of 
many species. There is no evidence whatever that this ani¬ 
mal catches fish, or that it .is particularly fond of a fish diet; 
