SMALL DEER-OUR RODENTS 145 
when they are not injurious to others in any way, in 
order that if I or a brother field naturalist wish to see 
it in its own home, it may be there to be looked at. 
This little velvety-ball variety of the water-vole is 
scarce, even in the undisturbed haunt I know of, and 
it would be very easy to exterminate it. I found it 
out after long and patient waiting and watching. 
From the latter species it is an easy drop to the 
two species of water-shrews, for they have their 
habitat in the same quiet places as the black voles ; 
only these are on a much smaller scale, as they fre- 
quent the runnels and little dykes that run from the 
clear but sluggish brooks. The brooks are nothing to 
look at, having at intervals small brick drains where 
the cart tracks went over. I like them, though, for 
there are associations connected with them relating 
to a time when I could range there freely, whereas I 
can only visit them now by permission. 
A few days ago I was standing looking over an 
old bridge, when an old labourer, who used to work 
on an estate I often roamed over, came up and said : 
' What are ye sidderin' on now ? Allus up to summut ; 
ye looks full on it at times.' 
' Why, things are so altered,' I replied ; ' one must 
go so far to see so little.' 
' And what do ye want now owlets ?' 
L 
