Climbing Animals.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 14, 3 April 1902, Page 15

Climbing Animals.

Dogs often have to be trained to climb stairs, instinctively distrusting the upper storeys. It has been conjectured that this is because the dog's forelegs break easily below the shoulder, and the beast seems to realise this. The fox has no such fear, and has been known to climb a tree with plenty of small limbs to the height of 17 feet. Swimming comes easier than climbing to most animals, as well as to many races of men. Rats and guinea pigs can swim well and do not climb at all. Bears can climb well if little, but the grizzly and other large species stay mainly on the ground. A bear always climbs down a tree backwards, as does the domestic cat until she has nearly reached the ground, when she turns and jumps ; and most wild cats run down a tree head first, even the heavy leopard being a more skilful climber than the light house cat. The tiger and lion, however, do not climb, for no discoverable reason unless it be that they fear falling, on account of their weight.