THE BANK MOUSE 407 
and corresponding latitudes in Russia, south to the Pyrenees, southern 
Italy, and Rumania; east and west it ranges from Wales, at least to 
the Syansk Mountains, 100 miles west of Lake Baikal, where it ascends 
to 1600 feet. 
The sub-species drzzannicus is confined to Britain. It is absent from 
Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Hebrides, Orkneys, and Shetlands; but is 
common throughout England, Wales, the lowlands of Scotland, and north 
to the districts adjoining the south coast of the Moray Firth, with the 
islands of Anglesey (Oldham),Wight (More), and Bute. It does not ascend 
the mountains to any great height, though on the latter point details 
are lacking for England and Wales (recorded from 600 feet in 
Cheshire by Coward ; and 700 feet near Bridge of Allan, W. Evans, J7S.). 
In Scotland it is characteristic of the valleys and cultivated districts 
rather than the moors and uplands, where it gives way to JJccrotus ; 
when found on the moors it affects the boulder-strewn hollows rather 
than the open ground (Gordon). Its distribution has not yet been 
worked out for the Highlands, where it may eventually prove 
to be more common than the present meagre records would warrant. 
For instance, at Loch Awe, Argyll, the first record was that of C. H. 
Alston in Azz. Scott. Nat. H7st., 1905, 52; the mouse had been pre- 
viously unnoticed, yet it is much commoner than JZzcrotus (Alston, 
MS.). It is not yet known from Sutherland or Caithness, the most 
northern record being that of Hinxman and Clarke for Braemore, West 
Ross-shire (Proc. Roy. Phys. Soc., Edinburgh, 12th June 1894, 394); this 
fact, taken in conjunction with Cocks’s experience in Buckinghamshire, 
suggests that this may actually be an increasing species, which may 
really have been rare until recent years. 
Distribution in time and origin :—E£. g/arcolus is not known earlier 
than the late pleistocene fauna of Ightham, Kent, where it occurs, as a 
distinct sub-species, with other forms now extinct. Its present distribution 
and absence from Spain indicate a recent arrival from the East, which 
reached Britain before the separation of Anglesey, Wight, and Bute, but 
after that of Ireland, Man, and the Scottish Islands. It does not yet 
seem to have had time to thoroughly overrun Scotland. 
Description:—The general appearance of the Bank Mouse has 
been indicated above under the genus Avotomys. 
The sparsely-haired ears are usually described as longer than in the 
Grass Mouse, but actually owe their conspicuousness rather to the 
shorter fur, which they overtop, than to any proportionately larger 
size; when laid forward they do not quite reach to the eyes. The 
densely-haired tail has a distinct terminal pencil, and reaches a length 
about half that of the head and body. The muzzle-pad is small and 
inconspicuous, and is crossed by a narrow median cleft running upwards 
from the upper lip. The lips are pink. In each hand the thumb is 
