RODENTIA. 



RED FIELD-VOLE. 



327 



ARVICOLIDjE. 



RED FIELD- VOLE, OR BANK-VOLE. 



Arvicola glareolus (Schreber). 



Specific Oluvracter. — Back rich reddish-chestnut, flanks grey, lower parts 

 and feet nearly pure white. Tail about one-half the length of the body, 

 hairy, dark brown above and white below. Upper grinders with double roots 

 in the adult. The first upper grinder has four spaces and five angles, the 

 second six spaces and eight angles ; the first lower grinder has seven spaces 

 and nine angles. 



Mus glareolus, Sohkeber, Saugeth, III. 680. 



Arvicola pratensis, Baillon in F. Cuv. Mamm. IT. 



,, riparia, Yakeell, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1832, 109. 



,, rufescens, De Selys, Campag. de Liege, 13. 



,, hicolor, Fatio, Kev. et Mag. Zool. 1862. 



The Bank- Vole, or as it may be better named, the 

 Red Field-Vole, was first noticed by Pallas [Nov. Spec. 

 Glires, p. 247) as a variety of his Mus rutilus, and was 

 first separated as a distinct species in Schreber's great 

 work on the Mammalia. It has since received various 

 other names, owing to its variability in colour and pro- 

 portions. It may be readily distinguished from the other 

 smaller European Voles by the red colour of its back. 



