THE WATER-RAT OR WATER-VOLE. 335 



doubtedly fall ere the coming of spring. It is 

 only reasonable to suppose, then, that this creature, 

 so highly intelligent in other ways, counts among 

 its gifts the ability to lay aside for a frosty day 

 with a forethought more liberal than is generally 

 imagined. 



ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE. 



In no directly obvious way is the water-vole of 

 any special value to man except in that sense 

 whereby a wild creature of any sort adds something 

 to the joy of life. On the other hand, it is to be 

 feared that the tunnelling activities of this other- 

 wise lovable little beast often lead to the partial 

 inundation of meadow-lands dependent for their 

 immunity from flood on artificial walls, and that 

 these same activities bring the miller's curses 

 upon the heads of the water-vole population for 

 damage of various kinds. No doubt they cost the 

 country a good deal in this way, for a bank once 

 perforated is difficult to repair with any degree of 

 permanency. Yet to encourage the general de- 

 struction of this little creature would be to show 

 a spirit of the utmost vandalism. 



DIMENSIONS. 



The weight of adult specimens is usually about 

 6 oz., and may occasionally attain 8 oz. The 

 length of head and body seldom exceeds 8 inches. 

 The tail varies considerably in length, but rarely 

 reaches 4^ inches ; from 3^ inches to 4 inches is 

 probably about the average. 



DISTINGUISHING FEATURES. 



The forefeet have only four complete toes, the 

 thumb being marked merely by a claw. The hind- 



