The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1904-10-27
ANIMALS GOOD SWIMMERS.
Even Some Of the Most Ungainiy Are
Strong and Graceful In
the Water.

In spite OF the fact that man Is not
an instructive swimmer, as are most Of
the lower animals, he exceIs all OF the
latter that are not aquatic In endur-
ance In the water. II is reported that.
In attempting to swim across the Eng
lish channel recently, man covered
80 miles before he succumbed to ex-
haustion. The only land animals tha.
are known TO be able 10 approximate
such feat are bears. writes ]. Herbert
Weleh, in Success, which are probably
the strongest swimmers among ami
mails not specially adapted by nature
for the water.
Deer and horses rank next to bears
In swimming powers. Deer swim rap
idly and gracefully, and II Is not un-
common for them to cover a distance
Of ten or even Is miles in the water
Horses are powerful swimmers. and
have none Of the aversion toward en-
tering the water which Is often shown
even by animals which can swim well
when forced 20 A number Of horses
that were pastured on the American
side OF the Niagara river once swan IN
company across this broad stream In
order 70 return to their old stables II
may be useful to know that. IN cross
ing a body Of water with a horse. the
best method II the horse Is expected
TO swim any considerable distance. Is
10 slide over his back. hold the animal
lightly by the tsl. and allow II 10 tow
you across. This relieves the horse
Of tie weight Of your body. and ena-
bies him TO swim faster and much
fsrther than otherwise would be the
Ease.
Dogs vary greatly In ability a.
swimmers The water spaniel. relriev-
er mastiff and 81 Bernard excel all
others. A retriever known to the
writer once followed 4 canoe for nlne
miles The dog was much exhausted
however. when drawn into the boat
The elephant Is good swimmer
and the wild animals Of the cat fam
lly. the tiger. the panther. the jaguar
and others do not hesitate 10 cross
lakes and rivers On the other hand.
the domestic cat shrlnks from INNER
sion. and browns quickly The nostrils
OF some small asimals are so placed AZ
10 render breathing very difficult when
they are IN the water Among these
are mice and rabbits. which VIII
drown without sinking beneath the
surface Rats are excellent swimmer
Almost ell birds except those which
sre distinctly natat0rIal are nearly
helpless in water. Small birds. In par
ticular. have no power of propulsion
and. though they do not sink. thcv
drown quickly Even many species Of
waterfowl rise from the water With
dlfiieulty. or not AZ all when thS
wings are vet. After a sea gull
plunges and returns to the surface II
stretches its wings 80 that they may
be dried BY the wind and sun before Il
attempts to iy
All reptiles swim Almost all snakes
move through the water with ea much
case and rapidlty e. on land. Rattle
snakes. for example. are much given
20 swimming In placid water Il it is
not TOO cold. IN The Eyerkiade lakes
Il Florida they may be often seen, L
ls we'll 70 know that 10 attack from 4
boat a poisonous snake in The water 4
= much more dangerous p-oeeedinE
han e aitzck the snake On land. The
-es-on .ls that the reptiIe will lmmsdi-
.'elv mske fof the beat. since 4 must
h-ve = solid bsse from which % strike.
n half leaps Hnd half ellfnba into the
craft. sd thoFs Ne e nsht e nnoom-
fcrssbiy elose quarters,