THE WATER-VOLE 223 



the sloping hollow trunk of a pollard Such positions are not infrequently 

 willow, or an old stunted oak, and make chosen by does when about to give 

 a lodging in the crown of the tree, birth to their young. 



XLIII 

 THE WATER-VOLE 



"The edge of the moist river-lawns 

 And the brink of the dewy caves." 



P. B. SHELLEY. 



'THHE common water-vole, or, as On closer inspection, however, it will 



it is more popularly termed, the be seen to be more thick-set than the 



water-rat, is classed as one of the rat, and to have a distinctly blunt 



fifteen hundred odd species known to muzzle. The tail is long and somewhat 



science under the heading of Rodentia. tapering, the limbs short and strong, 



The incisors, or gnawing teeth, which and the ears are small and almost 



are very highly developed in all completely hidden by fur. The fur 



rodents, and form their distinguishing is short and rather close, and in colour 



mark, are, in the water-vole, only four usually of a very dark reddish-brown ; 



in number, two in each jaw. In many but in Scotland, and certain parts of 



rodents these teeth grow at an enor- Cambridgeshire, there exists a black 



mous rate, in order to make up for the variety. 



constant wear and tear to which their The habitat of M. amphibius in this 



owners subject them. I should say, country is practically anywhere in 



however, that, by reason of the soft the vicinity of fresh water : ponds, 



food upon which it mostly feeds, canals, rivers, streams and brooks, 



the teeth the incisor teeth of the etc. It is seldom found far from 



water-vole grow more slowly than water, and indeed, I doubt if it could 



those of any other rodent, with the live for long away from it. In localities 



possible exception of the musquash suitable to its habits this little mammal 



(Fiber ziebthicus) of North America. may be found in fair numbers ; but 



In size the water-vole approximates it does not appear ever to increase 



to that of the brown rat ; and in suddenly and overwhelmingly, as in 



general outline, it is certainly some- the case of some other members of 



what rat-like if glanced at casually, the same genus. 



