FUR SEAI^ AND OTHER LIFE, PRIBILOF ISLANDS, I914. I3I 



enough to St. Paul to render its super\nsion practicable. It is not well adapted to foxes; 

 the seals no longer resort to it, and even if they should do so, no conflict of interests need 

 result. It is barely possible that an attempt to- restore the sea otter to the Pribilofs, 

 where formerly it was so abundant, might be successful. 



Mink and otter. — While it is possible that mink might be introduced on the Pribilof 

 Islands, it is not believed that the attempt is advisable. The animals would undoubtedly 

 gain an easy living in summer from the bird rookeries, but the well-known blood-thirsty 

 proclivities of the animals would insure the destruction of such vast numbers of birds 

 that the harm inflicted w'ould be out of all proportion to the benefit gained. The lack of 

 streams wth their accompanying food supply, and the dearth of small mammals, would 

 form insuperable obstacles against the maintenance of any number of mink during the 

 winter. In short, the conditions on the Pribilofs are unnatural and on the whole unfa- 

 vorable for mink, and their introduction can not be recommended. 



The objections to mink apply in a great measure to the land otter. The habits of 

 this animal in winter are very similar to those of the mink. While otter live to a con- 

 siderable extent on islands, their food is gained chiefly from fresh-water lakes and streams, 

 and the absence of these from the Pribilofs is a strong argument against the ad\4sability 

 of attempting their introduction. 



Lemmings aiid other small mammals. — The black-footed lemming (Lemmus nigripes) 

 is found on St. George Island only, where it sometimes becomes very abundant. Its 

 introduction on St. Paul, where the conditions are essentially similar, has been advocated. 

 It is said that a number of years ago lemmings from St. George were released on St. Paul 

 on two occasions, but no evidence that they survived was ever noted. There seems to 

 be no good reason, however, why they would not become established if liberated in 

 sufficient numbers. Since, however, there is no evidence that the lemmings have ever 

 been of any particular benefit to the foxes on St. George, the experiment would be 

 interesting chiefly from a zoological standpoint. The species is known only from St. 

 George Island, and its introduction on St. Paul would decrease the danger of its extermi- 

 nation from any chance cause, a fate which frequently overtakes island species, and 

 would afford an opportunity at some future time to study any effect on the species 

 which its new habitat might induce. 



For the same reasons the Pribilof shrew (Sorex pribilof ensis) , a tiny animal known 

 only from St. Paul Island, might be transplanted to St. George. Much the same reason- 

 ing holds true in regard to meadow mice (Microtus) , which are not found on the Pribilofs. 

 Certain marshy areas on both islands seem admirably adapted to these animals, and there 

 seems to be no reason why they should not succeed there, since they are abundant on 

 several similar islands in Bering Sea and on some of the Aleutians. These species are in 

 most cases peculiar to the island on which they are found. 



House mice were early introduced on both islands and have long been abundant, 

 and a pest. The presence of so many cats does not seem to have acted as a check on their 

 numbers. Rats seem never to have gained a foothold, although it is altogether likely 

 that occasionally they are landed with cargo. 



Ptarmigan. — The introduction of ptarmigan on the Pribilofs has been suggested. 

 While the general conditions as to climate and food are rather favorable than otherwise, 

 it is believed that the great number of foxes would prevent the birds from establishing 

 themselves or from increasing to any extent. It is likely also that the isolation of the 



