PUR SEALS AND OTHER LIFE, PRIBILOF ISLANDS, 1914. I09 



puffins, raurres, and other clifif-nesting species are secured by the foxes in this way. But 

 the bird most commonly eaten is the least auklet, the smallest sea bird found on the 

 islands. These occur literally in millions and are especially numerous on St. George. 

 From the time of their arrival in early May they are pursued relentlessly by the foxes 

 which are easily able to secure them owing to their habit of nesting in large colonies 

 in subterranean cavities on the bowlder-covered beaches and ridges. So numerous 

 are the birds, however, that the foxes seem to cause no appreciable diminution in 

 their numbers. During the nesting season the eggs of various birds are eagerly and 

 successfully sought by the foxes. Though it is probable that eggs of practically all the 

 breeding species are secured, those of the murres furnish the bulk of this form of sub- 

 sistence. The foxes store large numbers by burying them singly in the mossy tundra in 

 the vicinity of the breeding grounds of the birds. These spots are later visited and the 

 eggs are eaten on the spot or carried to the young. 



After the departure of the bulk of the birds in the autumn, the foxes derive but little 

 benefit from those remaining. An occasional dead bird or an egg overlooked during the 

 time of abundance, or an unfortunate migrant or winter visitor is picked up, but as a 

 source of food in winter, the birds are of little value. Out of about 40 stomachs of foxes 

 examined by A. G. Whitney at St. Paul village late in November, 191 3, feathers or other 

 remains of birds were found in 11 cases, but they probably represented only a small 

 amount of nourishment. 



Miscellaneous food. — The various invertebrates and other forms of marine life are 

 of great importance as food during the winter, and are of course utilized to some extent 

 at other seasons. Of about 40 stomachs of foxes examined at St. Paul village in late 

 November, 1913, tunicates were found in five cases, and the remains of a fish in one. 

 Grass or other vegetable matter of little nutritive value, but chiefly indicating that the 

 animals were hard pressed for food, were found in 24 cases, sand or earth in 16, and hair 

 in 9. In the records of stomach contents from other parts of the island, examined and 

 recorded by natives, sea eggs (Echinoderms) were frequently mentioned. These notes 

 relating to a series of stomachs which were examined with some care, accord in a general 

 way the results of stomach examinations made in former years on St. George. 



In former times many sea lions were killed for their hides and for human food, 

 and much of this meat was available for the foxes. At present the sea hon herd is 

 much depleted and few are killed. Occasionally a dead sea lion, whale, or walrus 

 is cast up and is utilized. A whale, if cast ashore at a point where a quantity of the 

 blubber can be secured, furnishes a great store of excellent fox food. If obtained 

 during the summer, or if desired for use during more than one season, it must be pre- 

 served by salting, and of course should be thoroughly freshened before being fed. Quan- 

 tities of vegetable substances, including grasses and various herbaceous plants, are 

 eaten by the foxes in times of scarcity, but these have little value as food. 



Although lemmings are abundant on St. George, and it has always been assumed 

 that they are devoured by the foxes whenever possible, there seems to be no positive 

 evidence to this effect. Among the contents of large numbers of fox stomachs exam- 

 ined during past years no remains of lemmings seem to have been found. During 

 the autumn of 1913, at a time when lemmings were unusually abundant, no evidence 

 was found that any were eaten. At the same time the stronger foxes were eating 



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