CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 



135 



always see two or three sea otters playing 

 on the kelp some distance off shore. A 

 year ago in February, after a heavy blow, 

 I counted fourteen sea otters on one patch 

 of kelp. It appears to me that sea otters 

 are increasing at least around Point Sur 

 the last two years." 



Mr. A. Novella of New Monterey 

 writes as follows : "While on a trip down 

 the coast about three months ago I saw 

 thirty-two sea otters on the way down 

 and twenty-six on the way back. I think 

 there are more sea otters on this coast 

 now than for a number of years." 



Here we have more evidence as to the 

 value of total protection as a means of 

 bringing back a species which has been 

 greatly reduced in numbers. Reduced 

 nearly to extermination about three years 

 ago, the sea otter is now beginning to 

 show a slight increase. The conservation 

 of no other mammal in the state could 

 bring so large an increased income to our 

 treasury, for the sea otter is the most 

 valuable fur-bearing mammal in the 

 world. Prime skins sold two ycai's ago 

 for over fifteen hundred dollars apiece. 

 Since 1013 the killing of sea otter has 

 been a high misdemeanor, punishable by 

 a fine not exceeding $1000. The enforce- 

 ment of this law appears to be greatly 

 benefiting the species. H. C. Bryant. 



AN ANIMAL WHICH LIVES WITHOUT 

 WATER. 



Two kangaroo rats (I'crodipits iiujots 

 and Dipodomys merriami subsp.) cap- 



tured over a year ago by Mr. II. C. Ohl 

 near Mendota, California, have been kept 

 in captivity in order to study their habits. 

 The most extraordinary feature of these 

 animals is that they are able to live for a 

 long period of time with no water whatso- 

 ever. For over six months they have been 

 kept at the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, 

 University of California, and have been 

 fed entirely on rolled barley. Not a drop 

 of water has been given them and they 

 have not even been fed on green food. 

 According to Mr. Ohl the smaller animal 

 {Dipodomys) has refused water since its 

 capture in October, 1913. Last summer 

 the larger one occasionally drank water 

 when it was placed in a hole in a block 

 of wood. It dipped its front feet into the 

 water and then drank what water adhered 

 to them. Both animals seem to be in the 

 best of health despite this treatment, 

 which would have soon proved fatal to 

 other animals. With the above facts at 

 hand, it is not difficult to understand why 

 kangaroo rats are so abundant on the 

 desert in localities miles away from water. 

 The kangaroo rat is a small nocturnal 

 animal found most abundantly in desert 

 localities. During the daytime it hides 

 in holes in the ground. At night it hops 

 about searching for weed seeds, which it 

 holds in its front feet while eating, 

 much as a squirrel holds its food. The 

 very large eyes and long hind legs which 

 enable it to jump great distances, make 

 identification of this unique animal very 

 easy. ' H. C. Bryant. 



WILD LIFE IN RELATION TO AGRICULTURE. 



ECONOMIC STATUS OF THE SEA 

 GULL. 



Sea gulls have increased enormously on 

 the coasts of Great Britain. As a result 

 there has been considerable discussion as 

 to the real value of sea gulls. The Suf- 

 folk and Essex Fishery Board has been 

 carrying on some interesting investiga- 

 tions regarding the feeding habits of gulls. 

 Stomach examination has been depended 

 upon for accurate information as to the 

 food taken. Data regarding the circum- 

 stances surrounding the taking of the 

 specimen has been recorded in each in- 

 stance. The food of four different species 

 of gulls and of two terns has been investi- 

 gated. 



Among the most interesting things 

 which came out in the investigation were 

 the results of experiments to show the 

 rate of digestion of fish. It was found 

 that the larger gulls were able to digest 

 fish at the rate of four ounces per hour 

 and smaller gulls at a somewhat slower 

 rate. "Provided the bird's stomach is 

 empty, when the fish is taken, a black- 

 headed gull is able to digest a five-inch 

 sprat within three hours, so that not a 

 trace of any bones can be detected. As 

 a result of experiments with sprats filled 

 with methylene blue, it is certain that a 

 gull shot in the afternoon, may show no 

 traces of three or four fish taken in the 

 morning." 



