From Fox's Earth 



raft it is the water crowfoot, and all alike take 

 only flowers. It may be that the little lamps of 

 purest ray catch their feeble sight, or some dim 

 sense of the charm draws them. The keeping 

 down of the choking water-weeds is one of the 

 thankless services the vole renders. 



All these are young. Like children they keep 

 near home, nibbling about the opening of their 

 holes. In the distance they look black, tending 

 to russet toward the head. Not all quite the 

 same shade. In furring, they may pass through 

 certain transitions, or the voles of a stream may 

 vary. The small ears are quite visible, also the 

 minute eyes far down in the face. The bullet- 

 shaped head is not unlike that of a young otter, 

 for which they are sometimes taken by visitors 

 from the remote city. 



The feeding voles on the near side are diving 

 from the bank. The splash is clearly distinguish- 

 able from the bell-like rise of a trout. Some 

 keep out of sight, sending ripples in half-circles 

 beyond the floating grass. Now and then one 

 crosses, forming a long, more than half-immersed, 

 moving cylinder. Unless alarmed, voles seldom 

 dive or swim under water. Eyes and ears are 

 hidden by nature's coat. They are much larger 

 than the dark ones by the holes, and further from 

 home. The greyish-brown hue is protective, less 

 easily made out in the grey evening when they 

 are mostly abroad. They are old voles. Crisp 



86 



