170 Poachers and Poaching. 



had a grebe sent to him which had been choked 

 by a bullhead, and the same fate has not 

 unfrequently befallen kingfishers and other 

 aquatic feeders. The vegetarian water-voles 

 may be written down innocent with regard to 

 spawn, or at the worst " not proven." Our 

 British voles are miniature beavers that haunt 

 the water sides and lead a fairy-like existence 

 among the osier-beds and lily-pads. They know 

 but little of winter, and therefore of the spawning 

 season, and their delectable lives are lived on 

 through ever-recurring summers. Until lately 

 naturalists knew but little of the life-history 

 of the voles, and the country folk called them 

 " water-rats" and " field-mice," and knew little 

 beyond except that they tunnelled their, meadow- 

 banks. As the little creatures pass from one 

 bank to another they swim fearlessly towards 

 the observer, and when within a few yards of 

 the side suddenly disappear and enter their holes 

 from beneath. Much abuse has been heaped upon 

 the vole for its alleged propensity for destroying 

 ova, but as yet nothing has been proved 

 against it. We have watched scores of these 

 little creatures feeding on the succulent leaves 

 of water-plants, but have never detected them 

 searching the " redds " or taking trout fry. It 

 has been asserted that voles feed upon flesh 

 when opportunity offers, but perhaps we cannot 



