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86 WAITE: VERTEBRATES OF THE WESTERN AINSTY. 
Muscardinus avellanarius (Linn.). Dormouse. Rare. 
Mr. Harrison tells me that it occurs very sparingly at Wilstrop. 
I have met with it near to Wetherby and at Bilton, and once at 
Thorp Arch. I have never caught this species in the traps 
which I have set for the smaller mammals. 
Mus minutus Pall. Harvest Mouse. ‘The late W. J. Milligan, 
of Wetherby, wrote of this species :—‘ Not by any means rare 
in late summer and autumn.’ I am, however, inclined to think 
that some other species is referred to, as I have never found the 
Harvest Mouse in any part of the district nor have I met any- 
one who has. 
Mus sylvaticus Linn. Common Field Mouse. Long-tailed 
Field Mouse. Abundant and generally distributed throughout 
the district. 
Mus musculus Linn. House Mouse. Very abundant in all 
parts of the district. It appears to frequent corn- -stacks rather 
than houses, and I often find them in hedges among the 
branches. I once found the nest of a Hedge Accentor full of 
haws and a Mouse comfortably ensconced among them. 
Mus decumanus Pall. Brown Rat. Common throughout the 
district. Frequents corn-stacks in company with JZ. musculus, 
occupying the lower part, while its smaller relative is generally 
found in the upper part. When the stacks are threshed, both 
species migrate to the houses in the immediate neighbourhood. 
Arvicola amphibia (Linn.). Water Vole. Called here, as else- 
where, Water Rat. Plentiful at every ditch, pond, and beck in 
the district, and also along the banks of the Wharfe and the 
Nidd. I kave frequently seen them swim across the river. 
Arvicola agrestis DeSelys)5 Common Field Vole. Very 
common in all parts of the district; plentiful in pastures 
and meadows, more especially those which are low-lying. 
Lepus timidus Linn. Common Hare. Very common in 
cultivated tracts and pastures. A few years ago this animal 
was comparatively scarce in the district, but, by strict preserva- 
tion, it has increased to a truly remarkable extent. 
Lepus pare aee Linn. Rabbit. Common throughout the dis- 
trict, and exceedingly numerous in some places, especially at 
Wighill Park, pelea it simply swarms. Both black and silver- 
grey varieties are not uncommon; these have, Neate! been 
introduced. It is to be supposed that it was in the district 
previous to 1540, as a rabbit warren at Bramham Bigging is 
mentioned in a legal document of that year’s date as belonging 
to the Priory at Nostell. Sy alee 
Naturalist, 
