THE JERSEY VOLE. 3 



head to rump, resembling in tone the coloration of E. glareolus. 

 Extremity of rump and sides of body a deep grey. Under parts 

 resembling that of glareolus, grey, suffused with a yellow tinge. 

 Tail more sparsely covered with hair than that of glareolus. The 

 winter pelage differs so greatly from that of summer as to be at 

 once noticeable even to the most casual observer. 



Adult male {winter). — The whole of the upper parts very 

 dark, looking as if the red of summer had been covered with 

 a deep grey covering, but not so deep as not to allow the red to 

 be just noticeable. In fact, the winter specimens approach 

 very closely in colour that of the Field- Vole {Microtus agrestis), 

 only, of course, being of a much darker shade. To try and 

 convey an adequate conception of the coloration, I would say 

 that had a Jersey Vole hitherto quite unknown been taken, say, 

 in England, it would at once suggest — at least, to my mind — a 

 Bank- Vole approaching melanism, or as a hybrid (granting, of 

 course, that such a thing were possible) between Microtus agrestis 

 and Evotomys glareolus. This is, at any rate, the best descrip- 

 tion I can give to convey the remarkable deep tone of the fur. 

 The fur of a winter specimen is soft, thick, and woolly, about 

 from 10 to 12 mm. on the back, against 6 mm. to that of sum- 

 mer. The British Bank-Vole is probably a trifle darker in 

 winter than in summer. I suspect, too, that there is a race of 

 Water-Voles inhabiting the fens of Cambridge which differ from 

 the typical specimens in their much darker coloration, being 

 midway between Microtus amphibius typicus and M. amphibius 

 ater (the melanic variety) ; but about these I hope to say a 

 few words in a future number of * The Zoologist.' 



It might be as well here to draw attention to the external 

 features by which an Evotomys Vole and a Microtus Vole can be 

 distinguished. Going over this well-worn path, so to speak, it 

 is necessary to point out a further peculiarity of the Jersey Vole. 

 The Field-Vole and Orkney Vole are Voles par excellence. They 

 differ from the true mice in being of a heavier build, ears nearly 

 concealed in thick fur, in possessing a short stumpy tail, and 

 small eyes. They are, according to the conviction of many, a 

 specialised Hamster (Cricetus), or a Hamster a specialised Vole. 

 Between these voles and the true mice (Mus) comes Evotomys, 

 a mouse-like vole having affinities with the voles in its shape, 



b2 



