HOW WILD CREATURES SWIM.
ALTHOUGH certain creatures, such as the otter, are well adapted by nature to lead a semi-aquatic life, there are others whose appearance belies their swimming powers. Many of them are, however, quite at home in the water, and show no hesitation in striking out for a long swim.
The otter is admirably adapted for swimming, either on or beneath the surface, for he is provided with perfect interdigital webs, a horizontally flattened tail, and the power to close his nose and ear passages at will. Although the otter is a good swimmer, its powers in this direction are much overrated by the writers of modern nature stories. In one yarn of this description the movements of a pair of otters chasing salmon in a pool were likened unto flashes of light. In another it was said that when otters swim under water they fold their fore feet back to their sides and propel themselves with their hind feet. In reality an otter is not a fast swimmer either on or below the surface, and unless going downstream with a swift current its movements are quite leisurely. Dozens of Limes when hunting have I seen an otter swim away from hounds under water, and no matter whether it was quite fresh or getting beat, there was no noticeable difference in the pace, which was most deliberate. If an otter could swim as fast as a salmon, as some nature writers would. have us believe, surely it would exhibit its powers in this respect when hunted, whereas in actual practice it never does so. Again, with regard to tucking its fore feet back to its sides when swimming under water. In a clear pool every movement of a submerged otter can be seen, and the fore feet play their part just as much as the hind in the motions of swimming. When on the surface an otter shows in addition to its head the top of its back and its "rudder." Generally the back and "pole " may be said to be awash. The otter belongs to the weasel family, or perhaps we had better say it is a marten which has taken to aquatic habits. Both the common stoat and weasel are expert swimmers, riding high in the water with head and shoulders out and showing the line of the back and tail. The squirrel, on the other hand, has a style of its own. The head and shoulders are kept above the water, but the hindquarters and the tail are deeply submerged. The fore feet provide the chief motive power, the animal working them very rapidly. The squirrel's tail is large and bushy, and when thoroughly soaked with water may have some- thing to do with the low carriage of the hinder part. The rabbit and hare, each of which is the possessor of long and powerful hind legs, swim in a manner peculiar to them- selves. The head is thrown back so that the ears touch the water and the forepart of the body is more or less awash, while the stern is carried well above the surface. Each stroke of the hind legs tends to force the head under water. Despite their peculiar method, however, both hares and rabbits are strong swimmers. I have several times seen a hare swim across a wide and rapid stream when hunted by hounds, and on one occasion while fishing a hare gave me the fright of my life by jumping into the river close behind me with a tremendous splash. She sprang over the deep water near the bank, then swam though the shallower part and landed on the further side, where she shook herself and continued her journey.
From its appearance one would hardly credit the hedge- hog with much swimming ability, but nevertheless it is (Fite at home in the water. It swims low, with the mouth barely clear of the surface, but as it is a thick-set creature the back is considerably above the surface. Coming to the deer family, we find red, fallow, and toedeer very capable swimmers. Generally they swim !ow, the head alone showing, but the depth of submergence 'depends to some extent upon the condition of the coat at the time. Likewise a fat deer rides higher in the water than a lean one. The thick winter coat affords more buoyancy than the red summer one. When hard pressed in the water a deer swims higher than it does when taking its own time. If a stag gets anything like a start, it can outpace hounds in the water, and takes some catching even with the help of a boat. The hairs of a deer's winter coat contain a certain amount of air, and this, coupled with bodily fat, tends to raise it higher in the water. This is particularly noticeable in the case of the caribou, which rides higher in the water than any other deer with which I am acquainted. The head, shoulders, and several inches of the body are well above the surface, giving the impression of great buoyancy. Water is generally the last resort of a hunted deer, but when changing their ground. deer of both sexes show not the least hesitation in swimming across lakes and rivers. A swimming stag cannot defend itself with either its fore feet or horns, therefore if hounds get up to it and seize it by the ear it is at once pulled under and drowned. Deer calves are quite strong swimmers and readily follow the hinds when the latter take to the water.
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