324 ARVICOLTIXE. 



species, which is so abundant throughout all Central 

 Europe, should never yet have been found in Britain, 

 and the fact is rendered still more curious by the dis- 

 covery of its teeth in a semi-fossil condition in fissures 

 of the limestone rocks near Bath, whence we have had 

 the pleasure of examining specimens, thanks to the kind- 

 ness of our friend Dr. H. Blackmore of Salisbury. 

 That gentleman has paid much attention to the Arvicolidan 

 of the drift formations of Wiltshire and Somerset, and 

 has distinguished several interesting species, including 

 the Alpine A. nivalis and the Northern A. ratticeps. 



The Common Field- Vole is a native of Northern and 

 Central Europe from Scandinavia, where it extends to 

 about 66 north latitude, to the Alps and Pyrenees ; but 

 it is more plentiful in the northern countries than in the 

 more southern, where it is much exceeded in numbers 

 by A. arvalis. Blasius received it from Finmark, North 

 Russia and Denmark, as well as from various parts of 

 Germany, and M. Fatio finds it in Switzerland up to a 

 height of 4,000 feet. In our own islands it is very abun- 

 dant from the Orkneys to the Isle of Wight, but, like 

 the rest of the genus, it is unknown in Ireland. 



It is usually but not exclusively found in damp places, 

 whence its local names of " Meadow-mouse " and " Water- 

 mouse"; in autumn Blasius has found it established in an 

 old nest of the Coot (Fulica atra) in company with the 

 Water Shrew. It forms burrows of considerable extent, 

 as well as more superficial runs among the roots of the 

 grass and herbage, and it may be seen abroad at all 

 seasons of the year and at all hours of the day, 

 though it is most active towards nightfall. We have 

 repeatedly kept it in confinement, and have found 

 that it soon becomes tame, without exhibiting much 

 familiarity or attachment. It climbs with ease, an 



