f in summer, the descent is made on a grassy or clayey
slope down which the animals swiftly glide, and plunge headlong into
deep water. If the sport takes place on a clay bank, the wet coats of
the otters soon make the slide so slippery that the descent is made at
thrilling speed. But in winter time the sport becomes general, as then
the snow forms a more convenient and easier surface down which to
slide. The otter, though not a fast traveller upon land, is a master
swimmer, and not only does it pursue and overtake the speckled trout,
but also the swift and agile salmon.

Otters den in the river or lake bank and provide an underwater entrance
to their home. They mate in February and the young--never more than
five, but more often two--are born in April; and though their food
includes flesh and fowl--muskrats, frogs, and young ducks--it is
principally composed of fish.

Though slow on land an otter often travels considerable distances,
especially in winter time, when it goes roaming in search of open
water. If pursued it has a protective way of diving into and crawling
swiftly beneath the surface of the snow, in such a way that though its
pursuer may run fast, he more often loses his quarry; I know, because I
have experienced it.

The otter not only has its thick, oily, dark-brown fur to keep it warm,
but also a thick layer of fat between its skin and body; and thus,
seal-like, it seems to enjoy in comfort the coldest of winter water.
Otters measure three or four feet in length and in weight run from
fifteen to thirty pounds.

The Indians of the Strong Woods are very superstitious in relation to
the otter. They not only refuse to eat the flesh, but they don't like
to take the carcass home, always preferring to skin it where it is
caught. Even then they dislike to place the skin in their hunting bag,
but will drag it behind them on the snow. Also, Indian women refuse to
skin an otter, as they have a superstition that it would prevent them
from becoming mothers.

One afternoon, when Oo-koo-hoo and I were sitting on a high rock
overlooking the rapids on Bear River, he espied an otter ascending the
turbulent waters by walking on the river bottom. We watched the animal
for some time. It was an interesting sight, as it was evidently
hunting for fish that might be resting in the backwaters behind the
boulders. Every time it would ascend the rapids it would rise to the
surface and then quietly float down stream