1544 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



bird population. There are such numbers on 

 the wing, or on the surface of the sea, at the 

 same time, that the observer visiting the island 

 soon decides that most of the guillemots are not 

 at home. 



They cover the adjacent waters everywhere 

 and keep flying off shore in bands so great tha't 

 the island seems to be encircled with a wide belt 

 of swiftly moving birds. They meet the ajD- 

 proaching ship when still miles away, and are 

 so numerous in the water that they scarcely 

 keep clear of the oars of the landing boats. 



The guillemot is a staple in the food supply 

 of the Aleutian and Pribilof natives. The thick, 

 meaty breasts are wholesome and palatable, and 

 one soon gets used to eating them. As the sup- 

 ply of birds is large, it could be drawn upon for 

 war time food in case of necessity. It ought 

 not to take long to load a refrigerator ship with 

 guillemots at Bogoslof. 



GUILLEMOT FROM BOGOSLOF VOLCANO 



THE SPADEFOOT TOAD 

 Brj Ida M. Mellen 



THE spadefoot, though one of our common 

 toads, is least often seen because of its 

 habit of spending a large portion of its 

 life — perhaps a couple of years together — un- 

 derground, and coming forth, as a rule, onl}^ 

 during the night. Great humidity is required to 



DISTANT VIEW OF BOGOSLOF VOLCANO 



