558 
FOREST AND STREAM 
Nov. 2, 1912 
MALE AND FEMALE ELEPHANT SEALS. 
Reprinted from issue of April 29, 1911. 
Mammals of the Albatross Expedition. 
In Volume XXXI., of the Bulletin of the 
American Museum of Natural History, Dr. 
Charles H. Townsend writes of the mammals 
brought back by the Albatross Expedition in 
1911, the expedition on which the colony of ele¬ 
phant seals was found at Guadaloupe Islands. 
The finding of a considerable colony of an enor¬ 
mous mammal supposed to be extinct was per¬ 
haps the most spectacular result of the expedi¬ 
tion, but from the scientific standpoint many 
other results were equally important. The Alba¬ 
tross brought back 259 specimens of mammals, 
representing fifty-nine species, of which ten from 
the islands of the Gulf of California, appeared 
to be undescribed. These mammals belong to 
many groups. Woodrats, pocket mice and deer 
mice were especially abundant. Deer and coyotes, 
lynx, foxes and raccoons were found at various 
points. 'I he only locality for the elephant seals 
was at Guadaloupe Islands. New species were 
found on the islands of Tiberon, Angel de la 
Guardia, San Esteban and Carmen. Tiberon, the 
largest island in the Gulf, about thirty miles long 
by fifteen in width, has long been famous as the 
home of the Seri Indians, who have had the 
name of being invariably hostile, and are said to 
have been the most primitive people known in 
North America. The Angel of the Guard is near 
the western coast of the Gulf, and while now 
uninhabited, yet shows signs of former occu¬ 
pancy, as pointed out by Geo. H. Gould in Forest 
and Stream. San Esteban is a large mountain¬ 
ous island, without fresh water and uninhabited, 
while on the island of Carmen there are import¬ 
ant salt works. 
A single mountain sheep, the sub-species 
known as cremmotates. was seen, but four pairs 
of horns were secured. The Lower California 
antelope, of which a head was brought back, is 
now rare. The Lower California deer and the 
Tiberon Island deer were abundant, and speci¬ 
mens were secured, but the Cedros Island deer 
is probably now extinct. Most of the mammals 
brought back were hares, mice and rats, among 
which there were several new sub-species. Four 
species of bats are found in the collection. Ele¬ 
phant seals and California sea lions were noted, 
but no specimens of the Lower California 
fur seal, which has not been seen since 1894. The 
wolf of Tiberon Island proves to be a new species 
and was named for Arthur Curtiss James, of New 
York, through whose generosity the museum was 
enabled to co-operate in the expedition of the 
Albatross. 
The paper, which is illustrated by two plates, 
possesses great interest. 
No More Black Fly Bites. 
Richmond, Va., Oct. 22 .—Editor Forest and 
Stream: Please note the accompanying clipping 
from the Therapeutic Gazette, one of our most 
reliable medical journals. If this is all that is 
claimed for it, it will prove to be a boon to 
sportsmen, particularly those in the Southern 
States. Please publish it and ask for the report 
of experiences. 
Chas. T. McClintock, M.D. 
The clipping follows: 
Bites of Insects. —Neal writes to the China 
Medical Journal for March, 1912, that he has 
found the following procedure very useful: 
Take one ounce of Epsom salt and dissolve it 
in one pint of water, wet a bath cloth so that 
it will not drip and rub the body well all over, 
and not wipe afterward, but dress, and flies, 
gnats, fleas, bedbugs, mosquitoes, etc., will never 
touch you. If one is exposed more than usual, 
being near water, or in a forest, then make a 
somewhat stronger solution, wet a cloth and rub 
the face, neck, ears and hands well—do not wipe, 
but allow it to dry; it will leave a fine powder 
over the face that the most bloodthirsty insect 
will not attack. Besides, the solution is healing 
and cleansing; it will heal the bites, subdue the 
consequent inflammation, and cure many diseases 
of the skin. 
Mutual Aid Among Wild Animals. 
BY W. J. MURRAY. 
The gregarious habit is very generally in 
animated nature, especially among mammals 
and birds. Those animals of a solitary 
kind are decidedly in the minority; and, 
owing to their comparatively unprotected con¬ 
dition, they are constantly exposed to the at¬ 
tacks of their natural enemies, while the as¬ 
sociated animals are saved by the wisdom and 
acuteness of their wisest members, and by the 
strength which results from united action. 
A great many hoofed animals, such as 
antelopes, deer, goats and elephants, live in 
herds; which are not mere irregular crowds, 
but regular organized bands, with definite con¬ 
ventions, and with a power of united resistance 
which frequently enables them to successfully 
withstand the attacks of predatory carnivores. 
Most monkeys, as individuals, are compara¬ 
tively defenseless, and, as a rule, are not dis¬ 
posed to come to close quarters with their 
enemies; yet, when in a body, they are often 
formidable, and are frequently able to help one 
another out of difficulties. 
Brehm relates how he encountered a troop 
of baboons which were able to defy his dogs 
and to retreat in good order up the heights. 
A baby baboon being left behind called loudly 
for help. One of the large males courageously 
returned, went to the young one and carried it 
up the heights in triumph—the dogs being too 
much astonished, apparently, to make any at¬ 
tack. 
A rabbit is generally supposed to be a 
stupid little animal, yet he makes an excellent 
sentinel in keeping watch while the others are 
feeding. On seeing danger, he kicks the earth 
in his burrow violently, by means of which 
the whole warren becomes alarmed and flees 
to safety. 
Some of the most successful carnivorous 
animals, such as wolves, hunt in packs; and 
many birds of prey, such as eagles, vultures 
and kites act in unison for the purpose of de¬ 
stroying their quarry. Combination, for the 
purposes of defense, has its counterpart in 
combination for attack. In each case the 
united action is usually associated with the 
practice of posting sentinels to warn the rest, 
or of sending out scouts to reconnoiter. 
Specially interesting are those instances in 
which the comparatively weak combine to at¬ 
tack the strong; thus, for instance, a few kites 
will rob an eagle, and wagtails will persecute 
