SOME OBSERVATIONS OX BRITISH MICE. 355 



removed below, in the event of rainstorms or other disturb- 

 ances, to safety underground. 



A student of voles can easily tell their haunts at a glance. 

 The distinguishing marks of a vole -infested locality are 

 principally the little passages trodden among the grass stems, 

 often so matted overhead with various herbage as to be 

 quite concealed from any eye looking at them from above. 

 The chief enemy of voles is the kestrel hawk, who in his 

 lofty flight keeps ever a watchful eye upon the ground, and 

 is always on the look-out for unwary voles. It is this 

 danger, I suppose, that accounts for their love of covert. If 

 they are obliged to pass over open ground they run very 

 swiftly, and so well does their colour harmonise with the 

 earth, that they are quite invisible, except to the eye trained 

 by observation, and that knows what to look for. 



Another sign of the existence of voles in any given spot 

 is to be found by turning over the large stones, if there 

 happen to be any ; if voles are present, you will find fresh 

 grass blades and the leaves of various plants, which the 

 timid vole has brought there to be consumed under cover. 

 By sitting still in their haunts for a few moments, you may 

 easily hear them eating on all sides ; a subdued noise of 

 tearing grass is distinctly audible, and yoa may see their 

 red heads poking out of their holes. 



With a strong trowel you may follow the course of their 

 burrows, and sometimes track the little tenant into a cid de 

 sac ; but as a general rule the passages join one another in 

 such a network, that they are able to find another way out. 

 In these subterranean galleries may be found broken snail- 

 shells (for the mice vary their diet with meat occasionally), 

 and the curious cases which contain clover seed, also freshly 

 cut grass ; and after some persevering digging you may 

 break in upon a little round chamber lined with soft hay, 



