NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 



35 



Tn 1N7~> Mr. Higford Burr of Aldennaston Park, Beading, 

 sent me a white water-rat, a very rare specimen, with this 

 letter : " I caught our white friend when out fishing. I saw him 

 swimming under water, and sank my bait, an artificial minnow, 

 under him. As he swam over it, I jerked it up, and hooked 

 him out. FRANK D. FOWLER." This rare beast is the size of 

 an ordinary water-vole, only it is perfectly white, and has pink 

 eyes. I sent him to Mr. Bartlett, at the Zoological Gardens. 

 He informs me that a white water-rat is very rare. Of course 



OLD EXRLISH BLACK I1AT. 



this specimen is an albino water-vole, for a water-rat is very 

 different from a house-rat. White moles are not uncommon, anil 

 white house-rats are very common ; and I do not see why, in 

 the ordinary course of things, there should not be white water- 

 voles. 



OLD BRITISH EAT. From time to lime I receive specimens of 



