no WOODLANDERS AND FIELD FOLK 



frequent study, and concerning them much confusion 

 existed. The country people called them " water- 

 rats " and " field-mice," and knew little beyond, 

 except that they tunnelled their meadow-banks. 

 But of late field naturalists have added much to the 

 little we knew of the voles. The genus to which 

 they belong, so far as Britain is concerned, contains 

 three species the water-vole, the field- vole, and the 

 red bank-vole. The first-named is the largest of 

 the three, and the best known. Throughout the 

 country its distribution is general, and on the banks 

 of streams and marshy meadows it is abundant. 

 It burrows to a considerable depth, and, in so doing, 

 often causes much damage. As the little creatures 

 pass from one bank to another, they swim fearlessly 

 towards the observer, and, when within a few yards 

 of the side, suddenly disappear and enter their holes 

 from beneath the water. Much abuse has been 

 heaped upon the vole with regard to its alleged 

 propensity for destroying fish-spawn, yet nothing 

 has been proved against it. I have watched scores 

 feeding on the succulent leaves of water-plants; but 

 never have I detected them searching the " redds," 

 or taking the trout-fry. It has been asserted that 

 voles feed upon flesh when opportunity offers, and 

 that they even destroy mice and birds. Perhaps I 

 cannot better vindicate their character in this respect 

 than by relating an incident which has recu rre( j 



