THE WATER-VOLE. 23; 



a distance from the water. Was it determined in its 

 choice of that place by the mere accident of finding 

 the potatoes which were planted there ; or is it the 

 constant practice of the aquatic rat to forsake the 

 neighbourhood of the water in the colder months ? " 

 (White's" Nat. Hist, of Selborne," Bell's ed.pp. 76,77.) 

 In Buckland's edition of White, page 443, an albino 

 water-rat is mentioned as being caught when out fish- 

 ing ; it had pink eyes, and is of extreme rarity. The 

 Water-rat is often devoured by the Pike, and perhaps 

 also by the largest trouts. An interesting writer in 

 CasselPs "Natural History," vol. i. p. 310, says: 

 " We have seen water-rats cross a wide meadow, climb 

 the stalks of the dwarf beans, and after detaching the 

 pods with their teeth, shell their contents in the most 

 workmanlike manner. They will mount vines and 

 feed on the grapes ; and a friend informs us that on 

 one occasion he saw a water-rat go up a ladder which 

 was resting against a plum-tree and attack the fruit. 

 If a garden is near the haunt of water-rats, it is neces- 

 sary to watch narrowly for the holes underneath the 

 walls, for they will burrow under the foundation with 

 all the vigour of sappers and miners. Such is the 

 cunning with which they will drive their shafts, that 

 they will ascend beneath a stack of wood, a heap of 

 stones, or any object which will conceal the passage 

 by which they obtain an entrance. The Water-rat is a 

 very clean animal in its habits. The flesh is said to 

 be eaten by the French peasants on maigre days. It 

 is found in most parts of Europe." 



