166 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



between abundant growth of grass and abnormal increase of 

 Voles. 



Kirkcudbright. — The plague only seriously affects a district 

 in the extreme north of the Stewartry, the hill farms in the parish 

 of Carsphairn are very generally affected, and the Voles have quite 

 lately made their appearance in the adjoining parish of Dairy. 

 I should say that some 10,000 to 12,000 acres in the Stewartry are 

 infested by the plague. In a parish in the centre of the Stewartry 

 complaints are made of Voles attacking plantations situated in 

 enclosed land ; this Vole, however, has been declared by an expert 

 to be the Bank Vole, a different species to the Field Vole found 

 elsewhere. 



The Voles were first noticed in August, 1890, since which 

 time they have increased enormously. As in other counties, their 

 principal habitat is the boggy land, but they are to be found on 

 all the grass area, and at any altitude. 



My remarks already expressed relating to the circumstances 

 of the plague, its cause, and proposed remedial or preventive 

 measures apply with equal force to Kirkcudbright. The sudden- 

 ness of the plague, and the alarming rapidity of its increase, is 

 the subject of general comment. A shepherd reports that he has 

 carefully examined the burrows, and while the majority range 

 from 6 to 14 inches deep, he has found them as deep as 25 inches ; 

 in no case did he find signs of a resting-place inside a burrow, 

 and he is of opinion that, at this season of the year at any rate, 

 the Voles do not go underground, but make their resting-places 

 in nests upon the surface. 



There is a general complaint of the increase of Moles and Bats 

 over the whole Stewartry. 



I regret that I find it impossible to offer any very practical 

 suggestions as to the means to be adopted with a view either to 

 the destruction of the plague, or to its prevention in the future. 

 Baids upon the most infected spots, with dogs and men armed 

 with spades, used both for purpose of digging up the burrows and 

 crushing the Voles, cannot fail to have some effect in diminishing 

 the numbers. Something might be effected by the extension of the 

 period when moor-burning is permitted, or even, in the presence 

 of the plague, burning small patches of affected ground might be 

 allowed at all seasons, under proper supervision, and with requisite 

 permission from some properly constituted neutral authority. 



