84 RODENTIA. 



mixed with grey, becoming slightly reddish on the sides of 

 the head and body, some longer blackish hairs on the back, 

 especially on its lower portion ; parts beneath dark grey, 

 A\dth a tinge of red on the belly ; ears shorter than the fm*, 

 and hidden by it, naked, but edged with hairs at tip ; eyes 

 very small and deeply set ; muzzle greyish ; the hairs of the 

 upper lip dirty white ; feet very strong, scaly, clothed with 

 short stiff hairs. In young animals the colour above is 

 yellowish brown, and there is no reddish tinge below. 



The following varieties have been observed : — 



Var. A. — White mth red eyes (Albino). 



Var. B. — Black, the A. ater of Macgillivray, foimd in 

 Cambridgesliire, and in Scotland in Banff and Aberdeen- 

 shire, as well as by Pallas in Siberia. 



Var. C. — Smaller, darker above ; beneath tinged with 

 chestnut and not with red ; the whole of the tail deep 

 chestnut. According to M. de Selys Longchamps, this va- 

 riety is the A. amphibius of Buonaparte, in his ' Fauna 

 Italica,' and the A, amphibius, var. Italica of Savi. It is 

 found in the marshes of Tuscany, and about Ostia and the 

 banks of rivers near Eome. Is common in Italy. 



Var. D. — Pale dirty yellow, a large irregular white spot 

 over the shoulders, and often a line of the same colour on the 

 breast. Observed by Pallas on the banks of the Obi, and 

 may prove to be a distinct species, in which case it would 

 not find a place in the European list. 



Length of head and body, 6 inches ; tail, 3 inches 4 lines ; 

 ears, 5^ lines. — P. M. 



Frequents the edges of ponds and rivers, marshy fields 

 and meadows. Breeds thrice in the year, producing six or 

 eight young at a birth. 



The A. amphibius inhabits nearly the whole of Central 

 and Northern Eiu'ope. It is found in England and Scot- 

 land, but, like all the other species of Voles, is unknown in 



