184 AN afternoon's ramble. 



stomach to his satisfaction, he commenced cleaning himself, after the fashion 

 of the Long-Tailed Field-Mouse, (Mus sylvatieus,)* passing its fore feet 

 quickly over its face and ears ; evidently vs^ith the intention of removing any 

 particles of mud, or weed, likely to have adhered in his recent dive. He 

 was now joined by another, probably the female; for, after short conversa- 

 tion resembling a few short screams, (quite unintelligible to me,) they 

 disappeared in the bank under my feet, to finish the discourse in their snug 

 retreat. 



After leaving the marshes, we crossed the high-road between Bracondale 

 Hill and Trowse railway-gate, entering a narrow road-way called Martineau's 

 Lane ; a few minutes' walk brought us to the bottom of what is commonly 

 called Long John's Hill, and the entrance to the village of Lakenham. 

 Obsei-ved three criminals suspended in the air; of what had these poor, 

 inoffensive, and useful Moles been guilty, to be thus strangled in this 

 enlightened age ? Requiring one for a skeleton, I embraced the opportunity, 

 and removed them from the snare which had thus deprived them of that 

 which the farmer could not give his "freend" — life. As exchange is no 

 robbery, I left a card in one of the traps, upon which I had hastily scrawled 

 the following words : " Misguided destroyer ! take a word in season from one 

 who has studied the structure and habits of this much persecuted and useful 

 animal ; in future, spare your friend." 



Crossing Lakenham bridge, Ave entered upon some marshes situ.ated at the 

 back of the mill ; saw only a fine specimen of the Common Pike, {Esox lucius,) 

 but obtained similar specimens of MoUusca as those taken at Trowse. Rooks 

 and Starlings were feeding in large flocks upon the marshes. Close upon 

 this spot are several ancient Walnut-trees, in the holes of which Starlings 

 have built their nests for several years; after much persuasion, with the 

 promise of a few pence, I succeeded in getting a boy to ascend one of them. 

 He described to me, that the holes in which the nests were placed looked 

 downwards, and that the tree itself was exceedingly decayed ; which 

 accounted for the accumulation of what is commonly called touchwood at 

 the base of the tree. Query : Had these birds made the holes, or merely 

 enlarged them ? 



Returning home, we passed a pleasant retreat called Kensington Garden, 

 which for a short period was appropriated to the exhibition of living animals 

 and birds ; and many excellent and rare specimens in zoology were collected. 

 But, I am sorry to say, after being open to the public about eighteen 

 months, it was closed ; the proprietors finding, to their cost, it did not meet 

 their anticipations. Leaving this once pleasant spot, we again crossed a 

 branch of the Eastern Counties line, through a bye-lane, in which I picked 

 up a specimen of the Bank- Vole. (Arvioola pratensis.) This animal is rather 



* I have kept several of these diminutive and highly amusing animals ; they not having that peculiar 

 offensive scent, so characteristic a feature in the Mus miisculw, and pied voriety. 



