BANK VOLE 



readily take food that is offered. We have found that, 

 after being kept some little time as a pet, it becomes more 

 self-assertive, and we have, on handling, often received 

 a nasty nip. This strange perversion is difficult to 

 understand, as the natural inference is that the animal 

 would become rather more tame and amenable to cap- 

 tivity. But the ways of wild creatures, as with those of 

 their human prototypes, are past understanding, as 

 all those who have been brought into contact with them 

 will readily testify. 



It is said that the Red Bank Vole, as it is also called, 

 is as equally destructive as its relative last under review. 

 It is wholly vegetarian, and undoubtedly does harm to 

 growing crops, and we have also watched it during 

 Winter (for it does not hibernate) gnawing bark from a 

 young tree. In hard weather several kinds of mammals 

 have to resort to this method of procuring food, and, 

 during the severe Winter of February, 19 19, we noticed 

 whole wooded areas stripped of the bark as a result of 

 the attentions of Rabbits and other members of the 

 order Rode?itia. The weight of snow was such that 

 the smaller bushes and trees were brought down level 

 with the ground, so that there was no difficulty in reach- 

 ing the branches which thus afforded welcome sustenance 

 in the hour of need. 



The Bank Vole has an overcoat of rich reddish-brown, 



with grey flanks, and almost white under-parts. It has 



a dark brown tail above and white below. 



Probably two or three litters consisting of five young 



75 



