152 COMMON P.RITISIT ANIMALS 



animals he has ever seen which can reach and dress 

 their hind quarters with their own hind feet. 



In summer the water vole eats the succulent 

 portions of the stems of flags and horse tails (Equi- 

 setum), duck -weed, American pond -weed, marsh 

 marigold, and water-lily roots. In hard weather he 

 Avill raid the farmer's root crops and potatoes, and 

 will often do damage by gnawing the bark of willows 

 and osiers. He does not hibernate all the winter, 

 but is inactive in very severe weather. 



The only plague of water voles that is known 

 occurred in 1896, on Eeed Island in the Humber. 

 This island was reclaimed from the sea, and consisted 

 of 600 acres of rich grass and clover land, on which 

 2000 to 3000 sheep and cattle were grazed. It was 

 rendered perfectly brown and bare by the water 

 voles. 



Hares and Rabbits. 



These two rodents, which are the largest members 

 of the family inhabiting Britain, maybe distinguished 

 by their colour, size, and habits. They resemble each 

 other, and differ from other rodents in having four 

 incisor teeth in the upper jaw. The second pair are 

 smaller than the central pair, and are placed imme- 

 diately behind theui. Hares and rabbits have collar 

 bones, but these are imperfectly formed. The feet 

 are hairy beneath, and they have five toes on the 

 fore feet and four on the hind feet. The ears are 

 longer and the tail shorter than those of other rodents, 

 and the hairy coat enters the cavity of the mouth, 



