66 



Common Rat (Mus decumanus, Pallas). This animal, known 

 as the brown rat to distinguish it from the very much scarcer black 

 rat, is only too common. In some places it positively swarms, and 

 does a great amount of damage amongst poultry, rabbits, game, and 

 various crops in the gardens and fields. As I have several times 

 recorded, the Rev; C. Hutton-Coates and I, on November lyth, 

 1896, killed in Yorkshire the largest rat that, so far, has ever been 

 recorded. It was an old buck, and weighed 2j Ibs., measuring 

 20 ins. from the tip of its nose to the tip of ics tail. There is a black 

 variety of this rat, quite different to the old English black rat which 

 is found chiefly in Ireland. The popular name for the rat is 

 "Ration," and though they are trapped in every conceivable 

 Planner, hunted out with ferrets, and shot, yet they still seem to 

 keep up their numbers, as they are very prolific. I have known as 

 many as sixteen and seventeen young rats found in a nest, and in 

 some seasons they invade certain districts in vast hordes, carrying 

 all before them. They are very plucky little animals, and, especially 

 when cornered, will not hesitate to attack even man himself. 



Dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius^ Linn). These pretty 

 little animals, something like a miniature squirrel, are more common 

 in the southern than in the northern parts of our islands. During 

 the summer months they are very agile, climbing amongst the shrubs 

 and hedgerows with great ease ; but during the winter months they 

 lie dormant, enclosed in some warm nest of their own making, or 

 one which they have appropriated. They make most interesting 

 pets, and many of us in the days of our youth have kept dormice. 



Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris. Linn). Common in many of our 

 woods and plantations, but unfortunately in some of the young 

 woods war has to be waged against them because of the damage 

 they do to the larch and spruce, eating off the lead and other shoots 

 and barking the trees. In certain parts of Scotland I believe that 

 one or two squirrel clubs are in existence solely for the purpose 

 of destroying them. In old woods they do but little harm. They 

 make a large, warm nest, or "drey," often utilizing an old magpie 

 or carrion crow's, and the usual number of young, which are born 

 blind, is three. When obtained young they soon become absolutely 

 tame and fearless. Their food consists chiefly of nuts, acorns, beech 

 mast, fir cones, and grain, but they are very fond of various kinds of 

 fruit. During the cold weather they hibernate in holes in trees and 

 similar places. I once saw a pure white one with pink eyes. 



Water Shrew (Neomys fodiens, Pallas). This pretty little 

 mammal is not often seen save by those who know how to look for it 

 and to keep quiet when in search of it. Though not so numerous as 

 the Common Shrew, it is to be found on the banks of many of pur 

 streams and ditches, and is a first-rate hand at diving and swim- 

 ming. At the first glance it has somewhat the appearance of a 

 young mole. A variety is occasionally found as black on the under 

 surface as on the upper. All the shrews are known in the country 

 as "blind mice," and many interesting superstitions hang round 

 them. 



Long-tailed Field Mouse (Mus syfoaticus, Linn). This 

 mouse, often called the Wood Mouse, is a very common and destruc- 

 tive little animal, especially in gardens, where it devours the newly- 

 sown peas wholesale, and also the crocus and other bulbs. Owls 

 are very fond of them, as they are of several other kinds of mice. 

 A large race known as the Yellow-Necked (M. flavicollis) occurs in 

 some parts of the country. 



