MAMMALS. 79 



. 



It has not yet been found near Shrewsbury. The 

 burrows of the Bank Vole are near the surface of the 

 ground and it especially affects gardens near to woods ; 

 it is fond of eating the bark and shoots of young 

 trees, and in this way sometimes does serious damage. 

 The nest and breeding habits are similar to those of the 

 Field Vole. The colour of the Bank Vole is bright 

 chestnut above, passing to greyish-red on the sides, and 

 whitish underneath : the feet and underside of the tail 

 are whitish, and the tail is more thickly furred, as well 

 as longer, than that of the Field Vole. Total length, 

 about 5 inches, of which the tail measures over one-third. 

 Both species of Vole are found occasionally in gardens, 

 even in towns, and the Field Vole has been taken in the 

 centre of Shrewsbury. They are certainly not desirable 

 tenants of a garden as they root out and devour large 

 quantities of seeds as soon as they are sown. 



WATER VOLE or (as it is generally called) Water Rat. 



M. amphibius. Although it is numerous on all our 



ponds, pools, canals, and streams, this 

 is one of the most harmless and inoffensive of animals. 

 Yet, in ignorance of this, most people place it in the 

 same category as Rats and Mice, and class them together 

 as " vermin " to be persecuted and destroyed at every 

 opportunity. It is really a pity that the name of Water 

 Rat has been so generally adopted, for the animal is 

 not really a Rat at all, and in its habits it differs entirely 

 from the true Rats. The Water Vole lives in burrows 

 excavated in the banks of a pool or stream, the entrance 

 being usually close to the edge of the water, while 

 there is generally a second entrance beneath the surface. 

 If alarmed it dives instantly and travels under water 



