Fauna of Glencairn. 167 



between two stalwart monarchs of the woods, that it appeared as 

 if stayed for a moment in mid-air to be dashed to the ground, 

 only to be saved by clutching some waving twig that seemingly 

 had stretched out its kindly tendrils in aid of its frolicsome friend. 

 Since the severe wind storm of some ten years ago which blew 

 down so many spruce trees, s((uirrels do not appear to have been 

 quite so plentiful, whether from lack of food or warm shelter it is 

 difficult to tell. They have young early in spring, usually in the 

 beginning- of April, having from three to five in a brood. I 

 remember two young ones, still blind, taken from their nest and 

 given to a cat to suckle. The cat was as proud and careful of its 

 foster children as of its own kittens, and was friendly and kindly 

 to the squirrels after they were full-grown. Strange to say this 

 same cat was an immense poacher, even killing and bringing 

 home squirrels from the woods, although its own foster children 

 were still about it. 



Water Vole {Arvicola amphibius). 



On account of its very shy habits the Water Vole is probably 

 less known than its numbers warrant. All such beasties go under 

 the name of rat, whether vole or grey rat of farmyard celebrity. 

 Wherever there is a stretch of water, be it stream or pond, there 

 you will find among other rats the water vole, especially so if the 

 soil is soft and congenial to the growth of water plants that have 

 succulent roots and stems. The usual colour is a rich brown, but 

 black ongg are far from uncommon. They are expert divers and 

 swimmers under water, and it takes a good dog to again find one 

 once it has slipped off from the water edge into a good-sized pool. 



Field Vole {Arvicola agrestis). 



This species, about the size of an ordinary mouse of a greyish 

 brown colour and short tail, is probably best known on account of 

 its periodic ravages of our pastures. It is exceedingly prolific, 

 breeding many times during the year, having from four to six in 

 one litter. Its usual food is grass roots, but it is a torment to 

 gardeners on account of its love of crocus roots. During the 

 past century its ravages have been noted in the years 1813-14, 

 1874-76, and in 1892, when Dumfriesshire fell a special victim. 

 It is estimated to have extended at that time in this county as a 

 scourge over from eighty thousand to ninety thousand acres of 



