NATURAL 
HISTORY 
American Museum of Natural History 
Robert G. Goelet, President 
Thomas D. Nicholson, Director 
Vol. 90. No. 5. May 1981 
Alan Ternes. Editor 
Judith Friedman. Managing Editor 
Thomas Page. Designer 
Board of Editors: 
Sally Lindsay. Frederick Hartmann. 
Vittorio Maestro, Rebecca B. Finnell 
Carol Breslin. Book Reviews Editor 
Florence G. Edelstein, Copy Chief 
Rita Campon, Copy Editor 
Angela Soccodato, Art Asst. 
Kay Zakariasen, Picture Editor 
Douglas J. Preston. Publications Editor 
Susan Rosenberg. Editorial Asst. 
Lillian Berger 
Editorial Advisers: 
Malcolm Anh. James W. Alz, 
Niles Eldredge. Kenneth L. Franklin, 
E. Craig Morris. Norman Newell, 
Thomas D. Nicholson, Martin Prinz. 
Gerard Piel, Nina Root 
David D. Ryus, Publisher 
Bradford D. Smith. Business Manager 
Frederick E. Grossman. Production Mgr. 
Debra Buck McCord. Asst. Production Mgr. 
Ernestine Weindorf. Administrative Asst. 
Elaine M. Callender, Advtg. Production Mgr. 
Lauren Krenzel 
Daniel J. Dynan. Asst. Circulation Mgr. 
Bob Bruno. Fulfillment Mgr. 
Ramon E. Alvarez. Circulation Asst. 
Natural History t ISSN 0028-07 12). incorporating 
Nature Magazine, is published monthly by 
the American Museum of Natural History. 
Central Park West at 79th Street, blew 
York. N.Y. 10024. 
Subscriptions: SI 5.00 a year. In Canada and all 
other countries: SI 8.00 a year. Second-class 
postage paid at blew York, N.Y. and at 
additional offices. Copyright © 1981 by 
American Museum of Natural History. Alt rights 
reserved. No part of this periodical may be 
reproduced without written consent of Natural 
History. The opinions expressed by authors do 
not necessarily reflect the policy of the American 
Museum. Natural History is indexed in Reader's 
Guide to Periodical Literature. 
Advertising Offices: 
Natural History Sales 
488 Madison Avenue 
New York. N.Y. 10022 
President of Sales. Arthur Hill Diedrick 
Advertising Manager. Katherine Jose 
Telephone Numbers: 
Advertising Sales (212) 826-9467 
Museum Information (212) 873-4225 
Subscription Orders (800) 526-0331 outside N.J. 
(800) 932-0834 in N.J. 
6 Authors 
12 The Web of Hunger T. Colin Campbell 
More Is Not Necessarily Better 
20 This View of Life Stephen Jay Gould 
The Titular Bishop of Titiopolis 
26 The Tourist as Pilgrim Colin Turnbull 
East African Safari 
36 Life Returns to Mount St. Helens Roger del Moral 
For many living things, natural catastrophes are neither new 
nor overwhelming. 
50 Steady as a Rock, Fast as Lightning Text and photographs 
by David B. Grobecker 
An Indo-Australian fish has evolved remarkable camouflage, fishing, 
and eating habits. 
54 Good Dugong, Bad Dugong; Bad Turtle, Good Turtle 
Bernard Nietschmann and Judith Nietschmann 
Because they are isolated off northern Australia, sea turtles, 
dugongs, and marine hunters survive. 
64 A Martin House Is Not a Home Erik J. Bitterbaum and 
Charles R. Brown 
These birds don’t share our notion of a proper life style. 
70 Celestial Events Thomas D. Nicholson 
72 The Earliest Traces of a Conservation Conscience 
Robert M. Alison 
As civilizations advance, their protection of natural resources grows. 
78 Sky Reporter Stephen P. Maran 
A Nonconforming Supernova 
84 At the American Museum 
Frozen Fish 
86 Additional Reading 
88 Books in Review Joseph Kastner 
Beastly Rights 
92 A Matter of Taste Raymond Sokolov 
Olympic Trials 
Co\er: A healthy patch of thimbleberry, Rubus parviflorus, grows through 
volcanic ash only four months after the eruption of Mount St. Helens 
devastated the surrounding forest. Photograph by John Marshall. Story 
on page 36. 
Change of address notices, undeliverable 
copies, orders for subscriptions. 
and other mail items are to be sent to 
Natural History Membership Semces 
Box 4.300 
Bergenfield, New Jersey 07621 
1 
