H2 WOODLANDERS AND FIELD FOLK 



winged bird, was in time to see it disgorge a live 

 vole. The latter had been disabled by the heron's 

 formidable bill, and but little life remained in it. 



The field- vole is as abundant as its water cousin, 

 though it is not nearly so prepossessing, and does 

 not come into the proximity of man with equal 

 confidence. Its favourite resorts are mossy meadows, 

 orchards, gardens, and corn-fields. Its food consists 

 of vegetables, though it occasionally climbs the 

 stalks of grasses in search of insects. The body 

 is beaver-like, and the short tail covered with stiff 

 hairs. Its light-brown fur is sleek and soft, the 

 sides and under parts being pale grey. The male is 

 about five and a half inches, the female six inches, in 

 length. The fecundity of this species is astonishing, 

 and their numbers become so great as sometimes to 

 cause considerable damage to outstanding crops. 

 If once the voles firmly establish themselves in young 

 woods or plantations, and effective measures are not 

 taken to get rid of them, the doom of the younger 

 trees is sealed. The little creatures not only gnaw 

 the tender bark, but sever all roots which impede 

 their burrowing operations. The most effective 

 way to keep them within bounds is to cultivate the 

 acquaintance of the barn-owl, which is easily done 

 by offering it protection, and placing suitable 

 nesting-places at its disposal. An empty barrel, 

 fixed longitudinally among the lower branches of an 



