86 MAMMALS. 



Arvicola agrestis, De Selys. Common Field Vole. 

 Ore. = Cuttick or Levellyn. 



A very abundant species through most of the islands of the group, 

 their runs being very conspicuous through the moss and grass. 

 Curiously enough, however, they seem to be entirely absent from 

 the whole of the island of Hoy, as Mr. Moodie-Heddle informs 

 us, and we certainly saw none there in 1888, though their 

 presence was detected on all the other more important islands 

 we visited. 



Sub-order DUPLICIDENTATA. 



Family LEPORHXE. 

 Lepus europaaus, Pall. Common Hare. 



Although Low in his Fauna Orcadensis makes no mention of 

 hares as inhabiting the Orkneys, yet in his Tour, made in 1774, 

 at page 11, he says: ". . . by a Mr. Moodie of Melsetter, 

 who likewise introduced hares and partridges into the island 

 (Hoy), neither of which seem to have thriven, owing probably 

 to the great number of ravenous birds in their neighbourhood, 

 and the want of proper shelter from them." From this in- 

 ternal evidence it would appear that the Fauna was written 

 before he undertook his Tour through the Orkney and 

 Shetland Isles. 



Since then the Brown Hare was introduced into the Main- 

 land by Malcolm Laing the historian in 1818. For some 

 reason or other this attempt appears to have failed ; but another 

 by his brother, S. Laing, and Baikie of Tankerness, about 1830, 

 was more successful, and at the present time hares exist on several 

 of the islands, Hoy, Eday, Kousay, Shapinsay, the Mainland, 

 and S. Ronaldsay; to this latter it was introduced by Lord 

 Zetland. Until lately they existed also in Papa Westray ; but, 

 since the departure of the Traills, the inhabitants have exter- 

 minated them ; they were introduced there either by the 

 present Mr. Traill or his father. 



Mr. Heddle's father coursed hares in 1831, though he does 

 not state whether in Hoy or the Mainland ; this would seem, 



