VERTEBRATE ANIMALS OF LEICESTERSHIRE. 219 
and in proof of his assertion he sent me, a year or so ago, a 
mounted specimen which, though apparently sun-faded on the one 
side, appears to be of a very light red, almost yellowish-rufous on 
the other. I was witness to a curious trait in the character of 
this animal on April 11th, 1885. Walking in the meadows at 
Aylestone with my dogs, I observed some rat-catchers at work on 
an old hollow willow tree, from whence they dislodged, with the 
help of their ferrets and dogs, several common rats and three 
Water-Voles, two of which evaded them by swimming. The 
third one was, however, caged with three of the common Brown 
Rat. The latter appeared abjectly terrified at our approach, and 
at that of the dogs, and huddled together with their heads tucked 
under their bodies. It was otherwise, however, with the Water- 
Vole, which upon our approach reared himself upon his haunches, 
bared his teeth and snapped them, squeaked, and shook his paws 
at us with the most threatening gestures, and would have flown 
at us outright had it not been for the protection of the bars. His 
conduct regarding the other rats was fair in the extreme, for he 
bit them in the most severe and impartial manner whenever they 
approached his corner. Indeed, one rat nearly “left his tail 
behind him” under the quick strokes of the plucky Water-Vole’s 
formidable incisors. 
Arvicola agrestis (Linn). Common Field Vole; Short-tailed 
Field Mouse.—Generally distributed, common, and breeding. 
Arvicola glareolus (Schreber.). Red Field-Vole.—I have not 
yet met with this species in Leicestershire, but it doubtless 
occurs, as Mr. Ingram, writing on 7th February, 1885, and 
enumerating the mice and voles, says, ‘“‘ and another, also short- 
tailed, but of a light fox-colowred skin.” 
Muscardinus avellanarius (Linn.). Common Dormouse.—Rare. 
Harley says:—‘‘ Not common. Met with in a small wood which 
lies over against Ravenstone, and between that village and 
Normanton on Heath,” but in no other woods of the county did he 
discover it. Widdowson writes, February 6th, 1885 .—‘‘ Not 
heard of for a certainty, save one brought in a load of oak bark.” 
Mr. Ingram writes, 7th February, 1885 :—‘‘I have never met 
with it.” 
Sciurus vulgaris, Linn. Common Squirrel.—-Generally dis- 
tributed and breeding. Harley writes:—‘‘It more especially 
abounds in our enclosed parks and woods. Garendon, 
