10 The Zoologist — January, 1866. 



bank vole [Arvicola pratensis, Baillon), of which a specimen was taken 

 alive here on the 1st of August in one of the small areas already men- 

 tioned (Zool. 9706). When compared with an example of the common 

 species {A. affreslis, F\em.), the specific characters are well marked; 

 the ears are larger and more upright, the head narrower and less 

 flattened, the eyes larger, and the tail much longer, being about one 

 half the length of the body. The head and back are shaded with a 

 rich chestnut, tlie flanks gray, the tail dark above and whitish beneath, 

 while the under surface of the body and the feet are almost pure white. 

 In all these particulars it agrees exactly with M. de Selys-Long- 

 champ's detailed description, as quoted by Professor Bell (' British 

 Quadrupeds,' p. 331). As my specimen is still alive I cannot give any 

 exact meas-uremenls, but it is decidedly smaller than the common field 

 vole. This vole was placed in a box with a glass front (the bottom 

 being covered with a turf), in which it has now lived for nearly three 

 months without becoming at all tame or familiar. It has made a 

 "form" like a hare's, in which it sleeps during most of the day, 

 coming out occasionally when tempted with fruit, but reserving most 

 of its food for the hours of darkness. It will eat almost any vegetable 

 substance, but appears to prefer roots and fruit to herbage, a raw- 

 potato being a special delicacy. Gooseberries are very neatly emptied 

 by a small hole on one side, the skins of all fruit being rejected. It is 

 so timid that it always tries to conceal itself when any one approaches, 

 nor will it eat in presence of a human being, unless very hungry. A 

 common field vole, which I kept for some time, seemed to be even 

 more strictly nocturnal in its habits, and burrowed beneath the turf 

 with which it was supplied instead of making a nest among the moss. 

 It was also bolder than its rarer and much prettier relative. 



Otter. — The otter is a very rare visitor to our small burns; a pair 

 were killed here in May, 1859, the female being shot by one of my 

 brothers in the act of killiug a rabbit. On the upper part of the Clyde, 

 however, they are plentiful, and boys who set night-lines for trout often 

 find only the heal mid back-bone of the fish on ihcir hooks, the flesh 

 having been stripped off by the otters. The late Mr. Monteilh, of 

 Carstairs, had a tame otter, of which some account has been given by 

 Mr. Macgillivray, and I have learned some further particulars as to 

 its habits from one who was well acquainted with it. " Neptune" was 

 allowed his full liberty, and spent much of his time in the river, but 

 always returned to the gamekeeper, whom he would follow like a dog. 

 He often lay basking in the sun, on a hay-rick near the mill on the 



