i 5 6 



HA R D WICKE ' S S CIE NCE- G SSI P. 



often does the water-rat {A. amphibius) entirely 

 escape the observation of the passer-by, as it sits 

 motionless on the wet mud at only a few yards 

 distance ; its startling plunge into the sheltering 

 element alone betraying its presence, so nearly does 

 its colouring match that of the muddy banks of the 

 stream. Almost equally well does the warm reddish 

 fur of the pretty little bank-vole {A. rufescens, De 

 Selys), the subject of the present sketch, melt away 

 imperceptibly into a background of crumbling earth 

 and dead leaves, thrown here and there into shadow 

 by projecting rootlets, ivy leaves and dead grasses. 

 Of the three British voles, the present species, from 

 its comparative scarcity, or more strictly speaking 

 perhaps from it being less frequently met with than 

 the others, has received the smallest share of atten- 

 tion. On the Continent, however, it is well known, 

 and is found in various parts. So remarkably 

 retiring and unobtrusive indeed are the habits of this 

 little creature that it may and probably does exist in 

 much greater numbers than is generally supposed. 

 The first intimation I received of its occurrence here 

 was from seeing a cat playing with one. Since then 

 I have found it to be far from uncommon in this 

 neighbourhood in suitable spots, and for years have 

 caught and kept specimens by me. Their favourite 

 haunts here are old rough ivy-covered hedge-banks, 

 especially those from which the soil has been washed 

 away in places, leaving the roots bare, and thus 

 forming hollows behind them ; banks adjoining 

 woods and plantations seem particularly attractive to 

 them. In spots like this, pleasingly varied by a 

 sprinkling of old mossy stubs, brambles and bushes, 

 with the roots of overhanging trees backed by deep 

 cavernous recesses, the bank-vole makes its burrow, 

 and forms runs in all directions, partly above and 

 partly below the surface, probably also making use 

 of those of the mole. I have caught them too 

 among artificial rockwork, and in a plantation in 

 which are banks thickly covered with the lesser 

 periwinkle, among the roots and stems of which 

 they had formed numerous runs. Externally this 

 species is at once distinguished from the short-tailed 

 field-mouse (A. agrestis), so common in meadows 

 and pasture-land generally, by its larger ears, longer 

 tail, and colour, it is also smaller, as well as propor- 

 tionately less bulky and more elongated in form. 

 The description and dimensions given by Lord Cler- 

 mont in his "Quadrupeds and Reptiles of Europe," 

 is as follows : "Tail rather more than half the length 

 of the body, covered with short hairs, blackish above, 

 yellowish-white beneath, concealing the scaly rings, 

 which are about ninety in number ; ears rather large, 

 slighty oval, longer than the fur, furnished with small 

 reddish hairs ; eyes prominent, but less so than in 

 A. arvalis ; feet dirty white. Fur on the upper parts 

 of the body rusty red, ash-grey on the sides, more or 

 less bright according to the season, the hair being 

 tipped with blackish ; under parts whitish, tinged 



with bright red-brown when in a perfect state. Ik 

 young animals this red colour appears strongly only 

 on the top of the head and on the middle of tie 

 back, the rest of the upper part of the body being 

 largely mingled with dark ash ; has 13 pairs of ribs. 

 Length of head and body, 3 inches 2 lines ; head, I 

 inch; ears, 5 lines; tail, 1 inch II lines." The 

 above dimensions are stated by the author to be 

 given in old French measure, 1 foot being equivalent 

 to 1 foot I inch and \\ lines English. Of nine adulte 

 from this immediate neighbourhood the average 

 dimensions were head and body rather over 3 inches 

 8 lines, tail 1 inch 9 lines ; one example, a female, 

 measured as much as 4 inches in head and body, tail 

 1 inch 9 lines. The bright fawn or orange tint 

 observable on the under parts of some specimens, 

 varies a good deal in intensity, being sometimes 

 altogether absent. Not only do these little animals 

 make pleasing and interesting pets, but they also, 

 thrive remarkably well in confinement. On more 

 than one occasion indeed, on placing a fresh-caught 

 specimen with the former occupants of a cage, I 

 have been struck with the superior plumpness and 

 sleekness of the latter ; I may also add that I have 

 never had one die in captivity. A female caught 

 here in January 1883 was exceedingly fond of bread,, 

 and would often carry a large piece up a ladder to- 

 her sleeping-place ; in fact I have always found them 

 prefer bread and grass to any other food, and this 

 has generally been the staple diet of those I have 

 kept. In captivity they will also eat haws, peas, 

 nuts, apples and hemp-seed ; of maize, like the tits 

 (Paridse), they only devour the middle, rejecting the 

 greater part of the grain ; their fondness for the 

 seeds of the sunflower is another taste they share 

 with those birds. In addition to grasses, they 

 probably feed in the wild state upon the leaves of 

 various other plants, but the following are all that I 

 can vouch for with absolute certainty ; sheep's- 

 parsley, common plantain, Brussels sprouts and hog- 

 weed. They are able to bite through the shell of most 

 filberts, but I doubt whether that of the hazel-nut 

 would not prove too much for their gnawing powers. 

 Several times during March 1S84 I pegged down 

 apples in the runs of these animals, but in no instance 

 were they bitten, though, as stated above, they 

 eagerly devour them in captivity. The stomach of a 

 specimen, caught during the month of July 1884 by a 

 cat, contained a mass of partially digested matter,, 

 consisting apparently of small seeds (resembling 

 those of grasses), rather that of leaves and blades of 

 grass. Victor Fatio, in his " Faune des Vertebres. 

 de la Suisse," states that during the winter the bank- 

 volejsubsists on bark and roots ; he also affirms that„ 

 in addition to its usual vegetable diet, it also devours, 

 worms, and is in the habit of robbing the nests of 

 small birds building on or near the ground. This 

 taste for animal food and insects has been observed 

 on various occasions in its congener the short-tailed 



