THE SHORT-TAILED FIELD VOLE 



he squeaked when I moved my fingers, giving 

 me, when I put my hand over him, such a sharp 

 nip that I nearly dropped the old fellow. 

 As he seemed quite recovered I took him to the 

 cage and put him in with the two females. It 

 was evident that he was now quite all right, 

 for when they popped out of their nest to see 

 who was coming he not only squeaked at 

 them, but boxed their ears in turn. They did 

 the same for him, after which greetings they 

 behaved more civilly to one another, and 

 presently I saw him go home to the nest with 

 them. Though this particular old male was a 

 very fine mouse, it is not always the males 

 which are the biggest; some of the females 

 grow to a large size. Meadow voles vary a 

 good deal, some being much bigger than others, 

 and I believe they go on growing until quite 

 old, at any rate, until after they have brought 

 up a family or two. 



My three voles soon settled down and made 

 themselves at home. They ate surprisingly, 

 grass and lettuce leaves disappearing at a great 

 pace ; indeed they seemed to spend their^ whole 

 time nibbling at something or other. Their 

 method of eating always interested me, for 

 the blade of grass was cut off with the teeth, 



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