50 T. V. EGBERTS — TEEEESTEIAL 



voles are distinguished from rats and mice by their shorter tails 

 and obtuse heatls. There is a black variety of the water-vole 

 which is widely distributed, but I am not aware whether it has 

 occurred in this county. The common form is very plentiful along 

 the banks of the Grand Junction Canal and the River Colne. They 

 swim with great ease, and are very interesting animals to watch if 

 you can get near them. The great art in approaching all wild 

 animals is to do so very quietly. 



The bank or red vole {Arvicola glareolus) is less common than 

 the next species, and is prettier, the back being a rich reddish 

 chestnut. It is found in this county. 



The common field- vole {Arvicola agrestis), or short-tailed field- 

 mouse, is a remarkably prolific little animal, and were it not that 

 almost all the Carnivora, especially the weasel, destroy immense 

 numbers, and in this are ably assisted by the kestrel and the owls, 

 we should be overrun with them. The colour is greyish brown 

 above, and pale grey beneath. This species appears to vary very 

 much in size ; the largest individuals are about six inches in length, 

 excluding the tail. 



There are three species of Mice — the common house-mouse, the 

 long-tailed field-mouse, and the harvest-mouse. Of these the most 

 interesting is perhaps the harvest mouse {Mm minutus). It was 

 first described as indigenous to this country by Gilbert White of 

 Selborne. It is a very pretty little creature, light orange brown 

 above, and white beneath. With the exception of one of the shrews 

 it is the smallest of British quadrupeds, six going to make up an 

 ounce. It is very easily tamed if caught young. The nest of the 

 harvest-mouse, a compact ball of grass about the size of a cricket- 

 ball, with no apparent opening, and so firm that it could be rolled 

 along a table, greatly puzzled the Selborne naturalist. The nest 

 he describes had eight naked little mice inside, quite filling it, 

 and how the mother could properly bestow her maternal atten- 

 tions on each of these little creatures, was a mystery. 



The long-tailed field-mouse {Mus sylvaticus) is reddish brown 

 above, whitish beneath. It is a great pest in gardens. 



Of Hares we have two species, the common hare [Lepus timidus), 

 and the mountain hare [Lejms variabilis) found in Scotland and in 

 Ireland. In Scotland this is known as the " Blue Hare." It is of 

 a greyish colour, turning white in winter. In spite of Mr. Rooper's 

 ^^bete noire,'''' the "Ground Game Act," the common hare is too 

 well known to need description any more than the Rabbit {Lepus 

 cuniculus). 



The last group, the Ruminantia (or cud-chewing mammals), 

 comprises the Deer, of which we have three species, the red deer, 

 the fallow deer, and the roe deer. 



The Red Deer {Cervus elaphm) is the noblest example of our 

 indigenous wild animals. It is only now found (I believe) in a 

 wild state in Scotland, and in the moorlands of Devonshire and 

 Somersetshire. The male is termed a stag, the female a hind. A 

 fine stag stands four feet or more at the shoulder, and is a splendid 



