E L Karlsten 1955 Buffer Bears Feb. 22 "Rat Island", 4 miles W of San Rafael, Marin Co., Calif. (small island offshore NE China Camp). Borrowed a small skiff from China Camp and rowed out to the island 9:10 A.M. Clearing skies, sunshine, light NNE breeze. Vis slowed me minutes before when he had taken two traps V and C. Shown traps had been set at entrance to burrows. Traps taken were released at same spot, and Ie says most went right into the burrows. I checked his traps about 9-10 A.M. but can't recall seeing toads out in the open at this time. Air temp. 9:46 A.M. 12.9° C. 2" above dry grasses. There is no standing fresh water whatever and bottom of depression both sections is only wet from dew. The quadrants H & I are covered with a shell mound deposit 20-30" depth, charcoal and ashes found in a small depression quadrant I. Divide is 8'x10', sloping and 14" deep. Now covered with green grass shoots 3" high, dry Amaranthus, a dry & composite. Russell and Lewin dug down 4" on bottom of depression. Unmistakable evidence of fire pit since old charcoal and charred bones 2" below the top sod. The porous nature of this soil is additional evidence that breeding sites would not likely be available to herons. Centipede and new bug found near the depression area down 3" in burnt area. At west edge of banks we found numerous bones in the shell deposit - mostly