MAMMALS 



and ponds, feeding freely on water plants, the 

 bulrush and duckweed being preferred, and 

 sometimes doing considerable damage to the 

 former of these two plants. In the winter 

 and during floods it is driven to consume the 

 bark of young trees and bushes, the maple 

 and osier being most frequently selected, and 

 I have seen whole bushes of maple with the 

 branches completely barked by the water vole 

 when hard driven for food. 



29. Field Vole. Microtus agrestis, Linn. 

 Bell — Ai-vicola agrestis. 

 A common obese and stupid-looking crea- 

 ture, having small eyes almost hidden in the 

 long fur, and with a very short tail. When 

 low-lying meadows are mown the nest of this 

 vole is often discovered, and so far as my ob- 

 servation has gone, is always in some depres- 

 sion and not in a burrow. In confinement it 

 is stupid and uninteresting, but soon becomes 

 tame. It is becoming scarcer on account of 

 its nests and young being constantly destroyed 

 by the mowing machine. 



30. Bank Vole. Evoiomys glareolus, Schreber. 



Bell — Arvicoh glareolus. 

 Though not uncommon the present is less 

 abundant than the last species, from which it 

 may readily be distinguished by its less obese 

 form, longer tail and more rufous upper parts. 

 In habits it does not differ from the last 

 species. 



31. Common Hare. Lepus europaus, Pallas. 



Bell — Lepus timidus. 

 It is unnecessary that I should further re- 

 mark of the hare than that except for preser- 

 vation it would speedily become extinct. 

 Under the operation of the Ground Game 

 Act it is even questionable whether preserva- 

 tion will prevent its extinction. 



32. Rabbit. Lepus cunicu/us, Linn. 



The great fertility of the rabbit, added to 

 its burrowing habits, operate to prevent its 

 becoming scarce. 



