ETON NATURE-STUDIES 



In similar fashion nature lovers might devote themselves to the 

 mice and other rodents. 



The field- vole and bank- vole make interesting pets,* while squirrels, 

 even though not kept captive, may be tamed sufficiently to enter 

 the house to be fed.t Insectivorous animals like the mole and the 

 shrew are more troublesome to deal with, owing to the almost con- 

 tinuous supply of food 

 which they require. 

 The keeping of British 

 bats in captivity offers 

 difficulties which would 

 seem to be almost in- 

 surmountable. 



The following 

 general suggestions 

 may perhaps be of use 

 in indicating what will 

 turn out to be useful 

 paths of investigation. 

 The fox, as all know, 

 is a member of the 



canine family, which has taken to burrowing, not a common habit 

 among the" dog tribe. He has, however, outwardly at least, not yet 

 acquired powerful fore-arms like the professional burrowers, such as 

 the badger or mole, and therefore often relies on enlarging a rabbit's 



* See the notes by Mr G. T. Hope in Nature Notes (Bale & Danielson), vol. xiv, pp. 130- 

 132 (June 1900). 



t See "Wild Nature Won by Kindness," by Mrs Brightwen, pp. 126-130. (Price 

 58. J. Fisher Unwin.) 



From a photograph bit Douglas English, B.A. 



FIGURE 97. A Dormouse. 



