THE WATER-VOLE 225 



after grain like the brown rat ; a fact of grey-crows, working over some miles, 



which seems to show their objection, can account for this scarcity of frogs, 



or inability, to gnaw through wood- Moreover, I have noticed that what 



work and other hard substances. This frogs there are in the locality are to be 



agrees with what I have said before mostly found in those dykes which, 



as to the water-vole's gnawing or for some reason, are not much fre- 



incisor teeth not being constructed to quented by water-voles, 



withstand the same wear and tear as Although water-voles do not hiber- 



those of the rat and many other nate in the strict sense of the word, 



rodents. very little is seen of them in winter. 



As to whether the water-vole is Occasionally, however, upon a mild 

 carnivorous, there seems to be some winter's day, one will venture abroad 

 difference of opinion. In many localities here or there in search of food, or, it 

 the country people believe that it is ; may be, to bask in the sun. 

 but naturalists, for the most part, With the warmer months water- 

 attribute the belief to confusing the voles begin to appear out of their 

 animal with the brown rat. burrows in the early evening, and as 



Now, however, Mr. Patterson, who night draws on their numbers increase, 

 is one of the most observant naturalists Throughout the night they pass to 

 we have, says : " This vole is harmful and fro, and may be heard, rather than 

 to fish," and thus settles a very vexed seen, in the dark hours. What they 

 question. Speaking personally, I have do then it is not so easy to say. The 

 for some time been of opinion that moon which reveals them to you also 

 they are harmful to frogs, but have reveals you to them, and observation 

 never been able to catch them in the is consequently difficult, 

 act. By way of inferential evidence, That water-voles make excursions 

 however, I may say that in a certain on land we know by the occasional 

 marsh, no matter how abundant tad- adventurous specimen we may some- 

 poles may be, adult frogs are compara- times come upon in the evening. If 

 tively scarce. Water-voles alone of the field has anything to attract them, 

 birds and mammals are numerous in one can understand this frequent risk 

 this marsh, and they swarm. I can- of life and limb. That it is frequent, 

 not bring myself to believe that a single even under cover of darkness, I know 

 pair of herons, or two or three pairs must be the case by the number and 



