200 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



birds are still seen on the ground ; but it is seldom that two 

 are to be seen hovering over the same hillside. These birds 

 have also suffered seriously from want, and many have died. 



The concurring testimony of farmers and shepherds is 

 that, since the cessation of the plague, the grass has come 

 away beautifully, and that there is at present an abundant 

 supply of excellent pasture. In one or two instances, 

 complaint is made that there are " wants ' : in the pasture 

 which have not yet been filled up. Only in one instance 

 has the information been unsatisfactory. The tenant of 

 West Redfordgreen tells us that, where the greatest damage 

 was done on that farm, the ground is " covered with 

 thistles." 



Farmers and shepherds are almost unanimously of 

 opinion that the recent vole plague is a result of the 

 destruction of birds and animals of prey. I have obtained 

 much information on this point, but cannot say that the 

 evidence goes to confirm their views. It is not suggested 

 that birds and animals of prey were seriously molested even 

 in Thessaly or in La Plata, and yet we know that destructive 

 plagues have occurred there ; and we have the familiar 

 instance of the oft-occurring Lemming plagues in the north 

 of Europe and America, where the " balance of nature " 

 cannot be much interfered with. Besides, if the late plague 

 was a result of the destruction of natural enemies, it is 

 singular that the periodical vole visitations, the last of which 

 occurred in 1876 or 1877, have not been more frequent. 

 The districts of Ettrick and Yarrow have suffered much 

 from the vole plague ; and we made special inquiry at Mr. 

 Martin in regard to the destruction of Stoats and Weasels in 

 the wide district there under his eye. We find that during 

 the eleven years of his residence in Bowhill, very few have 

 been killed by the game-watchers, except those caught in 

 rabbit-traps during the trapping-season, which were not on 

 ground infested by voles. A few were also found in mole- 

 traps. Mr. Martin points out that the plague in Ettrick and 

 Yarrow began and was confined to ground where game- 

 watchers are few, or entirely absent, and that, with the 

 exception of the man employed by Mr. Massey, whose doings 

 were reported to the Commission last year, none of the 



