THE WATER-VOLE. 3 



The teeth also are different in the water-vole, and there is 

 a slight inclination to a web in the hind feet. The whole 

 length, including the tail, is about 13 inches, while the whole 

 length of the common rat is 1 6^ inches. 



The water-vole has been seen at times to carry its young 

 across a river in its mouth. Mr. G. T. Rope, writing in the 

 Zoologist, says : " Walking by the side of a stream early in 

 May, I saw a large water-rat carrying in its mouth a half- 

 grown young one. While swimming the young rat was held 

 well up out of the water ; sometimes, however, the old one 

 would leave the water and cross a bit of mud, still holding 

 the youngster, which while in sight it never once dropped. 



FIG. 2. 



It presently, however, disappeared round a bend, but in a 

 few minutes I again saw it returning without its burden, 

 which had doubtless been lodged in a place of safety. She 

 seemed in a great hurry, and was perhaps going back for 

 another young one. Probably the nest had in some way 

 been disturbed, or was threatened with danger, and the 

 family were removing to safer quarters. It seems strange, 

 however, that the youngsters, which, judging by the size 

 of the one I saw, were certainly pretty well half-grown, 

 could not be trusted to follow their dam without help. The 

 removal of the whole family by this means must have been 

 no slight undertaking, as the distance she carried the young 



