256 BRITISH MAMMALS 



the field vole, and in well-wooded districts, such as the New 

 Forest, the animal may be subject to those periodical increases 

 described in connection with the field vole, though, as it is more 

 dependent upon woods and plantations for its existence, it has 

 not the same scope for development. It does not burrow so 

 much as the field vole, but prefers to make its home in the 

 interstices of banks, especially choosing crevices behind the roots 

 of trees. Its food is similar to that of the field vole, though 

 comprising perhaps more insects, and possibly birds' eggs. It 

 does an even greater amount of damage to the bark and buds of 

 trees. It also roots up and devours bulbs, and is a terrible pest 

 in a garden. 



The distribution of this animal extends over England and 

 the southern half of Scotland. It is not found in Ireland. In 

 Enp-land its fossil remains are met with as far back as the 

 Pleistocene period. It is a rarer animal than the field vole, 

 no doubt because it affects forested country. Outside England 

 it ranges across Central Europe through Asia and China, with 

 a near ally (perhaps only a local variety) in the Arctic regions^ 

 and another in North America. 



My odes lemmus. The Lemming 

 The Lemmings are distinct from the voles by being more 

 clumsily and stoutly built, with a short head and a large arched 

 nose, very small ears, and a short, stumpy tail. The soles of 

 the feet, moreover, which are naked and padded in the voles, 

 are furred in the lemmings, and possess much longer claws. 

 There are also differences in the skull, due to its greater breadth 

 and massiveness. The incisor teeth are without grooves. The 

 molar teeth also, though vole-like, are even more deeply incised 

 by the triangular zigzags. 



The common or Norwegian lemming is about 5 in. in length. 

 Each of the four feet has five toes, armed with strong claws in 

 the front paws. The soft fur is yellowish-brown marked with 

 blackish-brown streaks extending from the nose to the back 

 of the head, and from the brows to the ears. The common 



