SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST 
     
     by Rosemary Curley, Waterside, P.E.I. :3 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     Everyone I talked to had the 
     
     same problem in the autumn of 1980. 
     
     No matter where, messy cobwebs were 
     
     hung along walkways and across door- 
     
     ways, and houses were badly in need I 
     
     of a woman so tidy she would polish 
     
     the spiders' webs. At home, I over- 
     
     came the fear of inviting rain, and 
     
     dispatched them faster than they could spin. Occasionally, I took 
     
     time to inspect them: the ugly garden types, others so tiny that 
     
     ten at once could sit on the head of a pin, and large, whitish 
     
     egg-laden ones which popped explosively when stepped upon. These 
     
     were all short-lived spiders. In the bathroom there resided a 
     
     shiny rusty-coloured spider whose habits were more endearing. It 
     
     didn't spin obtrusive webs, and was of such sedentary nature that {#35 
     
     it could be counted upon not to run up your leg when your head 
     
     was turned. Weary of the task of sweeping cobwebs and squashing spiders, I left 
     
     it there. How long does a spider live? This one has survived since early 
     
     October, has consumed only two flies,yet remains fat and healthy. Others are 
     
     not so lucky. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     ANNUAL CHRISTMAS MAMMAL COUNT 
     
    
   
   
    
     For the second year in a row Christmas Bird Count participants also 
     
     recorded sightings of mammals and their sign. On the National Park count 
     
     unfavorable weather and danger of frostbite kept many observers close to their 
     
     cars. Nevertheless one red squirrel was seen and sign was observed for muskrat, 
     
     hare, fox and skunk. 
     
    

    
     0n the Hillsborough count one red fox and lots of tracks were seen 
     
     in the Rocky Point area, where a set of raccoon tracks was also observed. Hare 
     
     tracks were plentiful in all areas and scat was seen as well. A set of red 
     
     squirrel tracks and a cache were seen in the Rocky Point area. A squirrel was 
     
     seen in the Point Prim area and a squirrel, a midden and several sets of tracks 
     
     were reported from the Keppoch - Pownal area. Several sets of mouse tracks were 
     
     noted near Rocky Point. Weasel and mink were seen at Southport, and a mink was 
     
     seen at Earnscliffe circling out on the ice to approach a flock of roosting ducks. 
     
     When the ducks entered a lead of water, the mink followed and swam about for a 
     
     time causing considerable consternation among the ducks. 
     
    

    
     No seals were seen on either count, likely a result of scarcity of 
     
     open water.