THE BANK VOLE 



short-tailed, long-furred, short-eared mice, as 

 voles, and of the slim, long-tailed, thin-coated, 

 big-eared, big-eyed mice, as mice. There are 

 several kinds of each in England, but of the 

 voles the bank vole is far the prettiest. It is 

 really a sweet little creature, so bright and 

 smart in its red coat, white under-parts, with 

 its little prick ears and beady bright eyes. 

 It has little wee paws just like tiny hands, with 

 which it is constantly washing itself. I have 

 watched a bank vole sit up on its hind legs, 

 lick its paws, run them over its head, lick 

 them again, rub its head again, and repeat 

 this again and again, just like a cat washing her 

 face, until at last it was satisfied that even the 

 backs of its ears were thoroughly cleaned. 

 Then it twisted round and began to lick its 

 back, parting the fur with its paws so as to 

 get down to the very roots. Bit by bit it was 

 all gone over, after which it turned its attention 

 to its stomach, licking carefully with its tiny 

 pink tongue the greyish-white fur, and parting 

 it too so as to get at the under-part, when it 

 showed the greyish roots, for the hair, though 

 white at the top, is grey underneath. Having 

 finished its * waistcoat,' it worked on lower 

 down, and finally picked up its tail and 



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