1 768 Quadrupeds. 



joining field I caught a field-mouse, and without thinking of the probable consequences 

 of a disagreement of the parties, I thrust the poor little innocent into the same pocket. 

 The mole greeted the new coiner with a savage grin, and both fell to the bottom of 

 the pocket, when there soon occurred a regular rumpus between them. In about an 

 hour I reached my home, and intending to place the animals in a birds's cage, my as- 

 tonishment was great indeed to find, that nothing remained of the poor mouse but the 

 head and fore legs, with a few of its ribs. However, I thrust the mole into the cage, 

 and placed it upon a table with a lamp beside it, which threw a strong light into it. 

 The mole showed no signs of fear, but applied his powerful fore paws to the wires of 

 the cage, which he bent with the greatest ease, making most desperate efforts to escape. 

 I then placed the remains of the mouse in the cage, and the ferocious creature pounced 

 upon it immediately, and with ravenous eagerness cracked his victim's bones, and soon 

 finished his meal, not in the least heeding the close proximity of several persons, who 

 with myself were much surprised at his boldness. The creature escaped from the cage 

 the next morning, and has managed to keep concealed in a walled yard, with a wood 

 house, where I expect some day to find some traces of his presence. — W. H. Bensted ; 

 Maidstone, February, 1847. 



Anecdote of a Hedgeltog. — I send the following account of a hedgehog (Erinaceus 

 Europeans, Linn.) if you think it worth inserting in the 'Zoologist.' It shows that 

 opportunities are sometimes afforded for observing the habits and manners of the wild 

 animals if proper precautions are used. In passing along a walk through a wood, the 

 other day, I observed at a short distance from the walk a hedgehog, busily occupied in 

 searching for food amongst the grass, dry leaves, &c. in the wood ; the little animal 

 soon appeared to detect my presence, but after snuffing the air for a few moments, 

 seemed satisfied that there was no cause for alarm, and continued its search for food; 

 I remained motionless in the walk, and presently the animal came into the walk, 

 and passed across it to my feet and commenced licking my boot. — H. J. I. Brydges ; 

 Bonitibrooke, April 23rd, 1847. 



Food of the Water-Rat. — Perambulating yesterday, I chanced upon a water-rat, 

 squatted in a luxuriant bed of coarse young grass which forms an island in the middle 

 of a brook: he was eating the fresh grass- piles with great diligence, biting them off 

 skilfully at the base, and eating upwards, exactly as a rabbit is wont to do. I was 

 within two yards of him, and he allowed me to watch him very coolly, continuing his 

 feast. — Henry Daniells ; Exon, April 22nd, 1847. 



White variety of the Field Vole (Arvicola agrestis). — A few weeks since I obtained 

 a freshly killed specimen of what appeared to me to be anew.species of vole; however, 

 on examination, I cannot find sufficient difference to justify that supposition. Never- 

 theless, I will state my reasons for thinking it distinct, as it is quite possible that 

 other collectors may meet with similar individuals. The general colour is white, but 

 not albinoism, the fur having more the appearance of being changed by season, as is 

 known to be the case with the alpine hare. Indeed, the colour nearly resembles that 

 of the latter species, being grizzled with gray along the whole length of the back. 

 The colour of the back of a field vole is brown, and therefore we might expect the mix- 

 ture in the variety I speak of, to be of that colour instead of gray. The fur also ap- 

 pears to be of a coarser kind than in the specimens of A. agrestis which I have 

 examined. I am quite unable to give any authentic measurements, as it had been 

 preserved — that is, mutilated — by a country stnffer before I received it. Professor 

 Bell, in his ' British Quadrupeds,' states the ears of A. agrestis to be five inches, this 



