THE VOLES 45 



10. The Harvest Mouse (Mus minutus). Next to the Lesser Shrew, this' is 

 the smallest mammal in England 1\ inches long, a bright red-fawn above 

 and white below, and possessing a really prehensile tail, unlike theother mice, 

 who use their tails chiefly as balancers when climbing. 



The wonderful round nest of the Harvest Mouse, built off the ground on 

 stalks, needs no description ; but it is so cleverly constructed that, when 

 there is no visible aperture, the mouse can pass in and out by pressing open 

 any point of the woven surface. This nest is only occupied in the summer, 

 the mouse retiring to a hole in the ground or a tree in the winter. 



Its food is grain and seeds in general ; but it also devours flies, worms, 

 and bees ; it is said to be particularly fond of the humble-bee. It is not found 

 in Ireland, but I have seen it in Wales (in spite of statements to the contrary). 

 It is met with in parts of the East and South of Scotland, and here and there 

 in England, especially in the south and south-west. 



11. The Water Vole (Microtus amphibius) is often called a Water Rat, 

 though it is not a rat, being easily distinguished by its stouter build, its shorter 

 tail with hairs thickly growing on it, and its smaller ears. In addition, the 

 three pairs of molar teeth in each jaw are of an extraordinary and unique 

 shape and pattern, utterly different from those of the rat (see general remarks 

 on teeth of mammals, page 23, note) ; whilst the incisors are a deep orange 

 or yellow in colour. 



The fur is of a beautifully fine silky texture, and probably every reader 

 has noticed the way in which air bubbles cling to it when swimming under 

 water. Though mixed with a good deal of grey, it will be found on observa- 

 tion that the vole's hair is really fawn, or chestnut. 



It breeds once or twice a year only, in a burrow on the bank of a stream, 

 the entrance being below the level of the water. Here five or six young are 

 produced in a cosy nest lined with dry grass, above the water level ; and here 

 the vole also stores up food for the winter. 



Its food is entirely vegetable, consisting of the pith of rushes and reeds, 

 duckweed, water plants, etc. ; but owing to the fact that many true rats have 

 taken to living on the banks of streams, their depredations among chickens, 

 ducklings, and fish have been charged to the voles quite without foundation 

 a sad instance of the consequence of bad company. 



12. The Short-tailed Field Vole (Microtus agrestis) often called FIELD 

 MOUSE resembles the preceding in general characterization, but is less than half 

 its size, some 4 inches long in body, and the tail i| inch. The short, blunt 

 head, and stumpy tail covered with hair (and not with scales), distinguish it 

 from the true mouse. It is brown in colour above and a dirty grey below. 



It is found in meadow and pasture land, and after a series of mild winters 

 often becomes a veritable plague ; for, like the mice, it is remarkably prolific, 

 having four or five Utters during spring and summer. The remark is obvious 

 that man deserves some punishment for his folly in persistently killing off the 

 Field Vole's natural enemies owls, hawks, crows, and weasels. 



