The Fauna. 67 



ones. In the runnel near where we stood, a rat, dis- 

 covering the water getting into her burrow, came out 

 with something in her mouth, ran five or six yards, and 

 then deposited her burden on a high part of the bank. 

 She immediately returned to the burrow, and six times 

 repeated the manoeuvre. How many more times she 

 intended returning must remain a mystery, as our two 

 terriers, who regard the meadows as their " happy 

 hunting-ground," and who had been rat-catching at 

 some distance, came running up, as soon as they espied 

 the rat. Her only refuge was in the burrow, but the 

 ever-increasing volume of water caused her to bolt, 

 when she was immediately seized and destroyed. It 

 was then discovered that the rat had been engaged 

 in carrying out her young, with the evident intention 

 of conveying them to a place of safety, — a wonderful 

 exhibition of the instinct and natural affection im- 

 planted within the breast of the much despised and 

 persecuted rat. 



The Vole. — Both the field vole and the water vole 

 are to be found in the Craigmillar district, the latter 

 frequenting the neighbouring brooks in large numbers. 



