Kenny Mengay, age 12, of Cleveland, Ohio, for his question:

Can a chipmunk swim?

Almost any four footed animal can swim. If the need arises. The rare exceptions are the great apes who cannot save themselves even if they fall into the water. When a gorilla has such a watery accident, he gives up with a last gasp and sinks like a stone. The great apes are rated as the smartest of all animals. But when it comes to swimming, their smaller monkey cousins are smarter. When a monkey finds himself in the water, he immediately strikes out for the nearest shore. He knows how to swim after a fashions by instinct, as do the other four footed creatures,

Most members of the cat tribe can swim. Tigers and  lions take an occasional cooling dip and the handsome ocelot of South America goes swim and to catch his dinner.  Our Miss Puss, the house cat, detests getting her furry coat wet. Rarely does she enter the water of her own accord. But if she falls in, she does a very good job of swimming. She lays back her ears and beats her pretty paws in a dog paddle. Yes, she can save herself  but her disposition is ruined for at least a day,

The charming chipmunk is a ground squirrel, which makes him cousin to a vast assortment of rats, mice, beavers and other rodents. Only a few of these furry fellows choose to live in or around the water. The beaver, the nutria and certain rats are rodent swimmers by choice. The squirrels, including the chipmunk, would prefer not to dunks thank you. But should one of them find himself in the water, he knows how to swim by instinct.

Andy discussed this question with Dr. Robert Orr# a famous naturalist at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. Dr. Orr once  saw a mouse swim clear across a rollicking stream. It was a white footed mouse, one of those fairy creatures with bright eyes and white booties. Among the boughs and tall grasses this fellow is a very agile acrobat.

This is the simple swimming stroke used by most of the little four. footed mammals. The beaver and certain other lovers of the water, have webbed feet arid they swim with more ease and grace. When it comes to swimming, Mr. Chipmunk agrees with Miss Puss  he can take it or leave it alone but he would much rather leave it alone. Once in a while however, one of the little fellows finds himself dunked. When this happens he strikes out grimly for the nearest shore and chances are, he will make it though no one: ever taught him hour to swim.