106 ANIMAL LIFE OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



The general appearance of the Field Vole is so different 

 from that of a Mouse that it should be obvious at a glance that 

 they are not very closely related. The general stumpy form 

 with the blunt oval outline of the head, the short, round ears 

 just protruding from the reddish-brown fur, and the short, 

 rather stiff tail, are points sufficient to distinguish it from either 

 of our Mice. The colour mentioned refers to the upper parts : on 

 the under side the fur is greyish-white. The hind feet have six 

 pads on the under surface as compared with the five of the 

 Water Vole. The length of head and body is about four inches, 

 and of the tail only an inch and a quarter, that is, about a third 

 of the body length. 



The chief resorts of the Field Vole are meadows and damp 

 pastures, but it will also be found in gardens, orchards, and 

 plantations, doing enormous damage in every place, for its food 

 is mainly of a vegetable character. It must, however, be placed 

 to its credit that it catches and consumes large numbers of 

 insects, among them the destructive Larch Sawfly (Nematus 

 erichsomi). It has extensive underground stores where it lays 

 up food for the winter ; but it is a mistake to say, as it has 

 been said repeatedly, that the underground burrows include its 

 summer nest. These burrows connect with a network of 

 above-ground runs through the grass and herbage, with 

 occasional holes that enable the Vole to bolt underground. 

 These runs are made without disturbing the grass blades, 

 which cross above them and so enable the Vole to run or creep 

 along them without being seen by the hawk that circles high 

 overhead. He is not so successful in eluding the Owl, who 

 hunts much nearer to the ground and with the Weasel keeps a 

 salutary check upon its increase. Beside a rank tuft of grass 

 along one of these runs the female makes her nest, roofed with 

 a circular dome of grass blades divided longitudinally and 

 plaited and felted. It very much resembles the ground-nest of 

 the Humble-bee, but on a much larger scale. There is nothing 



