Rodents 73 



river above Cambridge, only occasionally wandering to the 

 more open districts. The Stoat and its near ally, the "Weasel, 

 are numerous in all the districts. 



It is doubtful whether the Seal (Phoca vitulina) should be 

 included in the county list; it is to be found in numbers 

 in the Wash during July and August, and may occasionally 

 wander up the Nene or the Ouse. 



As regards the Rodents, all species, with the exception of 

 the Dormouse, occur commonly ; the Dormouse has however 

 only been taken on one occasion near Fulbourn. The Squirrel 

 is abundant wherever the country is wooded, and in the 

 autumn may be found in the more open districts. This county 

 is said to be one of the favourite localities for the little Harvest 

 Mouse (Mus minutus), and although evidence of its occurrence 

 during the last few years is wanting, this is probably merely 

 due to lack of observation. De Winton's Field Mouse (Mus 

 wintoni) has not yet been recorded, but some very large ex- 

 amples of the Field Mouse (Mus sylvaticus) recorded by 

 Jenyns possibly refer to this species. 



The old English Black Rat (Mus rattus) has not occurred 

 for many years past, but its usurper the Brown Rat, as well 

 as the House Mouse, is abundant. 



Coming to the Voles, the Field and Water Vole are 

 numerous, the melanic variety of the latter being by no 

 means uncommon. The Bank Vole (Ewtomys glareolus) is 

 certainly scarcer than its near ally the Field Vole, but it 

 cannot be considered rare and has been trapped in several 

 distinct localities. 



Hares are very numerous everywhere, but more especially 

 in the north-eastern portions of the county towards Newmarket 

 and Mildenhall ; Rabbits are also to be found wherever they 

 are not too rigorously kept down. 



The Fallow Deer are now reduced to some 30 head at 

 Chippenham Park ; they used formerly to be kept at Wimpole 

 as well, but the herd at the latter place, then numbering some 

 300 head, was dispersed about 1880. 



