V0LE3. 211 



off the young shoots. The grasses are first attacked close to 

 the surface of the ground, and the stalk is consumed as far as 

 it continues white or succulent ; young shoots are also nipped 

 off; and grass tufts are to be seen completely eaten through, 

 what is left by the Voles being absolutely valueless. Sheep are 

 suffering severely in the districts affected ; large portions of 

 many flocks have been removed to winterage, wherever that 

 can be found, artificial food and purchased hay is being given 

 to the stock on many hirsels ; the lightness of last year's hay- 

 crop and the present high price of purchased fodder, cakes, 

 and corn adds very considerably to the difficulties of the far- 

 mers. Plantations are in some instances attacked, buds being 

 nipped off, and bark peeled. The arable land attached to 

 some of the farms is not appreciably affected, although I am 

 informed by one of my correspondents that during the leading 

 of his corn last autumn Voles were discovered under nearly 

 every stook, nests were also found, as well as eaten. corn ; fears 

 are entertained that the seed-corn may be attacked, espe- 

 cially in lea land, where the Voles can work their way up the 

 furrows.'' 



The reporter attributes the immediate cause of the outbreak 

 to the unusual roughness of the pastures during the winter of 

 1890-91, and the mildness of the weather at that time, whereby 

 the Voles gained an extraordinary advantage in the shape of 

 shelter from their natural enemies, as also in facilities for 

 breeding. 



After various remedies had been tried, with more or less in- 

 different success, the Voles seemed gradually to decrease in 

 numbers, till by the beginning of 1894 affairs had resumed 

 their normal conditions. In regard to the possibility of check- 

 ing such epidemics, Brehm observes that, unfortunately, man is 

 powerless ; and although various remedies, such as inoculation 

 ff'.ch bacilli, have been tried, we are much inclined to agree with 



p 2 



