RED riELD-VOLE. 329 



climbing, biting off the leaves and young shoots for 

 food. 



This Vole, like the other species, feeds on various vege- 

 table substances, but it is much more partial than its 

 congeners to animal food, as might be expected from its 

 more murine character. In captivity it prefers roots and 

 fruits to herbage ; gooseberries are a special delicacy and 

 are very neatly emptied of their contents, the skins being 

 always rejected. In Morayshire Mr. Gordon says that 

 these Voles are very destructive to young larch-trees, 

 climbing the branches to feed on the young buds, and 

 also barking the stems in winter. They do not reject 

 carrion, and feed freely on insects, worms, snails, &c. ; 

 the wings of the former being always cut off before 

 the body is eaten. They even attack young birds, for 

 M. Fatio has often known them to plunder the nests of 

 Hedge-sparrows and Robins ; and we have known one 

 kill and devour a Common Shrew which was confined in 

 its company. 



The nest, like that of the Common Field- Vole, is 

 placed in a hollow on the surface amongst thick herbage. 

 It is built of grass and moss, and M. Fatio has sometimes 

 found it lined with feathers. The young vary in number 

 from four to eight, and there are said to be three or four 

 litters in the year. 



This is a much prettier species than the Common Field- 

 Vole, its proportions being more elegant, its colours 

 brighter, and its fur more smooth and glossy. The head 

 is narrower and less flattened, the eyes larger and more 

 conspicuous, and the ears longer, so as to show distinctly 

 above the fur. The head and back are rich cliestnut, 

 which passes on the flanks into a more or less clear grey, 

 while the breast, belly, and feet are almost pure wliite. 

 The young arc much darker in colour than the adults. 



u u 



