The Mammalian Fauna of the Edinburgh District. 133 
exterminate them seems beyond the province of hope. Burning 
the ground where the destruction is greatest does no good, 
says one, they fly to their holes and ere long again appear ; 
heavy rain does not drown them; some people, remembering 
how they disappeared after a similar but not so serious a 
plague about fifteen years ago, believe that a fall of slushy 
snow would kill them [a ‘black’ frost would have more effect], 
but slushy snow does not suit sheep, and such a remedy for 
the plague would of necessity involve great loss of stock. In 
some places more than the ordinary number of. cats are kept, 
and these are credited with doing good work on the farmers’ 
side. It is remarked that owls and hawks have been increas- 
ing all over the infected region; one informant mentions that 
in his locality the latter are as plentiful as crows; and in 
such an emergency all are gladly welcomed. But all that 
is being done in these various ways does not tell in any 
appreciable degree on the myriad swarms.” . 
Desiring to see a few examples from different elevations, I 
applied to Dr J. R. Hamilton, of Hawick, who very kindly 
procured me a dozen from that neighbourhood. They were 
captured at various altitudes, from about 600 feet to close on 
1000 feet above sea-level, and belonged without exception to 
the present species, Arvicola agrestis. One was cream- 
coloured (with black eyes), and the rest gave me the impres- 
sion of being a shade darker than specimens I have examined 
from other localities. In acknowledging receipt of a couple 
I sent to the British Museum, Mr Oldfield Thomas, while 
unable to say that they present any peculiar features, adds 
that there can be no doubt about the species. My children 
have appropriated half a dozen of them as pets, and I don’t 
think I ever before saw a wild animal take so readily to con- 
finement. They exhibit practically no fear, and will sit on 
the hand for any length of time, regaling themselves on apple 
parings, bread soaked in milk, etc. The tender shoots of 
grasses they are very fond of, using the fore feet singly after 
the manner of a hand to bring the stems to the mouth and 
hold them in position. They show no desire to harm each 
other when in life, but the body of a dead companion is soon 
attacked and devoured. Furnished with strong chisel-like 
