The Annals 



of 



Scottish Natural History 



No. 8] 1893 [OCTOBER 



NOTES ON THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE 

 SHORT-TAILED FIELD VOLE (ARVICOLA 

 AGRESTIS\ AND ON SOME OF THE EFFECTS 

 OF THE VISITATION. 



By PETER ADAIR. 



LITTLE more than twelve months ago, the plague of voles 

 had reached the maximum of its virulence over a wide area 

 of the districts affected. By the summer of the present year, 

 it had ceased. 



This paper is based on particulars of a general character, 

 and applicable to the greater part of the infested area, which 

 have been obtained from the district extending from the top 

 of Teviot on the east to the hills of Galloway on the west ; 

 and upon special information obtained from farmers and 

 shepherds in that area, in reply to questions submitted to 

 them ; and from personal visits to the Selkirkshire district. 

 The farms from which particulars have been got embrace, on 

 an estimate, 70,000 acres. 



In dealing with the advent and disappearance of the 



animal, it may be stated that an increase began to be observed 



in the infested area for some years before 1890. By the 



Autumn of 1890, the numbers on certain farms, chiefly 



8 B 



