THE RODENTS. 77 



In colour, this vole is dark brown or black above, grey 



beneath. A pied vole of this species was recorded in the 



* Field' for June 5, 1897. The head is short, 



&c^^^*^' *^® ®y®^ small, the ears almost hidden in the 



fur. The tail is tapering and of moderate 



length only. The toes are not webbed ; the soles are 



pink, and the claws have a reddish tinge. The teeth 



are yellowish. 



The Field- Vole, otherwise the Short-tailed Field-Mouse, 

 is the most destructive of all, as in the famous "vole- 

 plagues," the subject of parliamentary in- 

 quiries (of which Lydekker gave a useful 

 summary in his ' British jMammals ' in the " Naturalist's 

 Library"); and the 1892-93 Commission, of which Sir 

 Herbert Maxw^ell was chairman, brought home most of 

 the mischief to one species only. Though also found 

 near water, it is particularly partial to damp localities 

 at some little distance from any river. It is a great 

 burrower, and the mischief done by it is almost incal- 

 culable, though, being a most prolific creature, it is by 

 no means easy to get rid of. Its best friend is the keeper 

 who traps weasels and shoots owls, as these natural 

 enemies are far more efficacious in the long-run than 

 any device of man. Although a powerful and rapid 

 burrower, the field-vole does not hesitate to aj^propriate 

 the deserted run of the mole, though the latter, should 

 they meet, is known to attack, rout, and even devour the 

 intruder. 



This vole hibernates much in the same way as the 



dormouse, any mild day rousing it for a meal 

 Hibernation. ^y •< • i 1 c, i • t •, i 



oil its Winter stores, atter which it relapses 



into its long slumber. 



It nests underground, several litters, each numbering 



four or five, beino; produced during the warm 

 Breeding. .1 



months. 



A considerably smaller sj^ecies than the last, the field- 



