268 AN EAST COAST NATURALIST 



valve almost destroyed, a portion only remaining 

 attached to the other valve by the hinge, which was 

 seldom damaged, and we came to the conclusion that 

 this was the work of a Water Vole, unless it was that 

 of an Otter, as there were no other animals which 

 could have performed the operation so neatly, and so 

 thought the Voles found it more convenient to hold 

 the closed shell the same way, as with one exception 

 the same valve was always broken ; and we must 

 have seen at least fifty of the shells so treated." 



This communication revived my interest in Lound, 

 and at the first convenient opportunity I went there 

 again. On 12th September I examined quite a 

 number of broken valves lying upon one or two tiny 

 islands just above the surface of the lake. Quite 

 little heaps were to be seen, the shells broken open 

 exactly as described, with smaller chips in profusion 

 showing where nibbling had been done; and what 

 was still more convincing, where the Voles had been 

 seated, their excrement lay fresh and unmistakable. 

 The dung of the Vole is very unlike that of the 

 Otter ; besides, Otters are not to be found in that 

 neighbourhood. Shortly after this I received a 

 communication from West Norfolk, wherein mention 

 was made of the way Water Voles secured Crayfish 



