4 THE RIVER-SIDE NATURALIST. 



one, while in my sight, was at a rough guess from twenty 

 to thirty yards, and she may have carried it some way 

 before I noticed her. Probably there were from four to six 

 of them to move, that being, I believe, about the average 

 number in a litter. In April 1871 I found three nests, in 

 one of which the young were no bigger than full-grown 

 house mice, but were covered with hair and could swim 

 and dive well. The glossy fur of this little animal receives 

 reflections very readily, and is, I think, a means provided 

 for the safety of its possessor. Many persons must have 

 noticed how difficult it is to catch sight of a water-rat 

 sitting perfectly still on wet mud or in some similar situa- 

 tion, by reason of the fur receiving by reflection the general 

 tint of its surroundings." 



Just sit down and watch for a few moments. See how 

 quietly and suddenly the water-vole appears on that mass of 

 floating weed, retarded in its progress down-stream by the 

 growing reeds at the side. You must be very quiet, for 

 he is very wary, and will dive under water at the least 

 noise or movement. See how he searches for some 

 particular tit-bit, and when he has found it he sits up 

 on his haunches like a squirrel, and nibbles away till it 

 is finished. Have you ever noticed one of those sword- 

 leaved flags at the edge of the water suddenly topple over 

 and lie flat on the surface? It is the water-vole's work; 

 he has bitten it through at the bottom, and now rises to the 

 surface to enjoy his repast on the sweet, succulent root. 



How often, when silently walking up-stream, one is 

 startled by a sudden flop in the water, and then a water- 

 vole rises half-way across the river, making for the opposite 

 bank ; or you may watch him quietly swimming close in- 

 shore to find refuge in his burrow. This pretty, harmless 

 animal feeds almost entirely on water-plants. It is par- 

 ticularly partial to the spongy roots of the different species 

 of flags, more especially the common sweet flag (Acorus 

 calamus], and in the rivers and streams where this plant 

 grows the water-vole abounds. 



A dark variety, almost black, of the common water-vole 

 is sometimes met with. 



