256 NATURE'S STORY OF THE YEAR 



The easiest way of discovering a vole is to walk 

 along some quiet road which is bordered by 

 grassy banks, and to listen for a sound of the 

 animal amongst the herbage, and the instant that 

 this is heard stand still, and then wait. The vole, 

 accustomed to the passing of carts and people, 

 will soon conclude that the danger is gone, and 

 will resume his occupation. Sometimes he will 

 come out on an open space, so that his little black 

 eyes may be seen when he snuffs the air and 

 wonders whether all is well. 



In some of the open spaces amongst the dead 

 leaves are little mounds of fresh mould too small 

 for the work of a mole, and from the fineness of 

 the particles, evidently the work of a lesser 

 animal. They are probably the output of the 

 long-tailed fieldmouse, one of the prettiest, and 

 perhaps the commonest, of British mammals. It 

 is of a blackish tawny colour above, with milk- 

 white breast, large eyes and ears, and is intensely 

 agile. 



It is strange that while so many children are 

 encouraged to keep the noisome fancy mice so 

 often kept as pets, this prettier and more cleanly 



