WATER VOLES MAKING NESTS ABOVE GROUND. 



SYDNEY H. SMITH, 

 York. 



During a ramble on Skipwith Common in May last, I noticed 

 a curious example of adaptation to environment in the case of 

 the water vole. In the swampy neighbourhood of the black- 

 headed gullery there are numerous water voles, and as it is 

 impossible for them to excavate their usual underground runs 

 without their being promptly waterlogged, the voles have 



Photo by] 



Nest of Water Vole, 



[Sydney H. Smith. 



adapted themselves to circumstances, and in place of their 

 burrows have built comfortable nests in the tufts of sedges. 

 These nests are skilfully woven from the white pith that fills 

 the interior of the sedge, the outer green bark being deftly 

 peeled away and discarded ; the complete nest is spherical 

 in shape, and is entered through a hole in the side. Close 

 search revealed a considerable number of the nests, and although 

 I was not fortunate enough to find one containing young. 



my friend, Mr. E. W 

 ones at a later date. 



1912 Jan. I. 



Taylor, discovered one with six young 



