168 Fauna of Glencairn. 



pasture land. It does not seek safety in holes as readily as is 

 usually the case with such species, and is therefore very easily 

 killed with a good dog. 



Bank Vole (A. glariolus). 



This species may almost be said, from external appearance, 

 to be a go-between 'twixt the field vole and the field mouse, 

 which it greatly resembles in colour. Its tail is a third longer 

 than that of the field-vole, and it has more prominent ears aud 

 eyes. It is found round gardens and woodlands, but is never 

 very plentiful. The Bank Vole devastated plantations in 1863, 

 eating the bark of the trees. 



Bkown Eat {Mus decumanus). 



This is doubtless one of the most widely distributed and best 

 known of rodents, and needs no description. It is omnivorous, 

 and takes as kmdly to a crust of bread or an ear of grain as to a 

 good fat duckling. When it survives its many enemies and 

 reaches full maturity it attains a- large size and makes a fierce 

 fight with a dog. It is said to have first reached England from 

 the East early in the 18th century. 



House Mouse {Mus mvsculus). 



Is like the above, common, and known to all. When kept 

 in confinement you may have white, black, and brown ones, the 

 same as we have in tame rabbits. 



Long-tailed Field Mouse {Mus sylvaHcus). 



This species is much larger and of a rounder shape than the 

 Field Vole, and its tail is fully as long as its body. It is of a 

 bright reddish brown colour, with white breast and belly, with a 

 little touch of greyish brown shading down the throat. Its ears 

 are prominent, and it has large luminous black eyes. It is not 

 much seen, but is not scarce. Occasionally it invades outhouses, 

 especially if roots are there stored. 



Common Shrew {Sorex vulgaris). 



The Shrew may be found in any pasture field or wood that 

 has a clothing of grass beneath. It is probably as plentiful in 

 Glencairn as it usually is in other places. It feeds on insects, 



