224 THE BOOK OF THE OPEN AIR 



On the banks of the river, stream, lives upon its surroundings. That is 



or other piece of water where they to say, not only must the banks and 



may be living, these mammals con- the water suit its habits, but the 



struct their intricate and numerous vegetation in the immediate vicinity 



burrows. Like the brown rat and the must afford suitable food. Take fifty 



rabbit, the water-voles seem to spend yards of an ordinary stream, for in- 



an almost prodigal amount of labour stance, where water- voles occur. What 



upon their habitations. Their tunnels do we find ? The banks must be fairly 



twist and turn in every direction', often high and steep, for to make holes on 



undermining the bank and causing it a flat surface which would probably 



to give way. They seem to be possessed be trodden on and stamped in by 



by a consuming fever which drives cattle would hardly do. Vegetation, 



them to dig, dig, as if for dear life, besides trees and grass, rushes, the 



That each family of water-voles begin yellow iris, water-lilies, watercress, and 



their abode with an idea of exclusive many other water-loving plants which 



use, and with a separate scheme, I not only bear succulent green food 



quite believe. But, living in colonies in the summer, but leave in some 



as they do, and burrowing close to- cases more or less bulbous roots which 



gether, they naturally soon break into can be dug out of the mud in the 



one another's tunnels, and do not winter. 



repair the mistake. The only burrows Such vegetation as mentioned above 



which appear to be kept separate are forms the chief, but by no means the 



the breeding ones, which are like only, food of the water-vole. Most 



rather intricate editions of the familiar cultivated root crops, such as potatoes, 



rabbit's " stop." The entrances to mangel-wurzels, etc., are devoured by 



these burrows are both above and them, to some extent, if they can be 



below water, since it is not always obtained within easy reach, 



safe for the inmates to show them- Being good climbers these little 



selves above the surface. A few holes animals will even sometimes mount 



are almost always to be seen driven into trees after fruit ; and I have also 



very high up in the banks ; these are known them climb up bean stalks after 



emergency exits, constructed chiefly beans. On the other hand they seem 



by way of precaution against floods, but seldom to make their way into 



To a certain extent M . amphibius farm or other dwelling-houses, or mills, 



