176 THE PROTECTION OF WOODLANDS. 



They abound most in young plantations with a strong growth of 

 grass, giving them shelter and food. They devour acorns, 

 beech-mast, and hazel-nuts, Chestnuts, Lime and Hornbeam 

 seed, but care little for the seed of other broad-leaved trees or 

 Conifers. They gnaw the young bark of Beech, Oak, Ash, 

 Hornbeam, Larch, and most other trees ; but the various kinds 

 of mice and voles differ in this matter, some beginning to gnaw 

 close to the ground, others only a little way up, and others only 

 after climbing a good height up the tree. In nurseries, whole 

 rows of one- and two-year-old Spruce are sometimes eaten 

 through in seed-beds ; and in plantations plants may either be 

 bitten through, or gnawed partly or entirely round the stem, 

 according to age and size, young Beech and Larch of an inch and 

 more in diameter often being cut right through. As the young 

 trees grow and the bark thickens, there is less danger of their 

 being gnawed. 



The Mouse genus (Mus) has a pointed muzzle, large ears, and a naked 

 tail as long as its body. The Wood -mouse or long -tailed Field -mouse 

 (M, sylvaticus) mostly devours seeds, and only occasionally gnaws the bark. 

 The Vole (Arvicola) has a broad head with small ears hidden in fur, short 

 legs, and a short hairy tail. Several species do damage in woodlands. 

 The Field-vole or true Field-mouse (A. arvalis), which migrates from the 

 fields to the woods in autumn, devours seed and gnaws the bark of 

 saplings and poles near the ground. It is not a good climber. The 

 Common Field-vole (A. agrcstis) does similar damage, but often higher up, 

 as it is a better climber. The Red or Bank-vole (A. glarcolus), whicli 

 does damage chiefly by gnawing, often climbs up 10 or 12 ft. to reach the 

 soft bark. The Water-rat (A. amphibius), the largest vole, always lives 

 below ground and gnaws roots, but never occurs in large numbers. 



best pi'eventive and exterminative measure against mice 

 and voles is to protect their natural enemies (owls, buzzards, 

 crows, ravens, sea-gulls, kestrels, rooks, hedgehogs, weasels, 

 stoats, porcupines, martens, badgers, and foxes), so far as sport 

 permits of this ; but cats are of little use. Nurseries are best 

 formed away from where fields march with woods. But when 

 once the balance of nature has been disturbed by measures for 



