ABSTRACT
The wastefulness of food materials under conditions of over-abundant supply is not limited to Birds. Every one familiar with domestic animals will recall the way such animals go about the utilization of their food when they come suddenly into a situation where it is abundant. Wastefulness of material occurs in a type of activity in which carnivorous animals, who ordinarily kill only for food, kill without regard to their needs and to the great detriment of their natural food supply. Under general discussion of successful animal activity an attempt was made to give enough of beaver activity to convince the most skeptical of its great usefulness to the animals. In regard to the general inquiry as to how successful animals are in utilizing the materials upon which their lives depend, in avoiding wastefulness of food and other material necessities, we are bound to ask whether even this wonderfully adaptive animal activity is perfect.
