172 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Mr. W. M. Oliver, of Howpasley, Hawick, N.B., writing on 

 the 23rd January, 1892, says : — 



" In answer to your questions regarding the plague of mice or Voles — 

 There is no doubt that the cause of their great increase is due to the great 

 destruction of vermin, their natural enemies, by keepers, not as much those 

 of the proprietors as those of the shooting tenants. The amount of damage 

 is not easily estimated ; but I may state that almost the whole of the bog land 

 is at present totally worthless for pasture, while the white land is also very 

 much overrun with them, and now they have begun to attack the heather. 

 We have had them more or less since they were so bad about fifteen years 

 ago ; but it is only within the last eighteen months that they have shown 

 signs of increase, and during the last spring and summer the increase has 

 been enormous." 



Mr. Henry Scott, of Midgehope, writes on Jan. 25th : — 



" The cause of their increase is due to the destruction of their natural 

 enemies, such as Hawks, Owls, Weasels, and Crows. The amount of 

 damage is very great, as at present every green blade is eaten up, and will 

 cause farmers a large amount of expense to winter their stock. The time they 

 appeared was in the summer of 1890. Their numbers are not increasing at 

 present, as they do not breed during winter. We are killing large numbers 

 of them at present with dogs, but I do not expect to exterminate them in that 

 way. Landed proprietors should be petitioned to allow all their natural 

 enemies to increase, so that they might be able to cope with their destruc- 

 tion ; but I think Government should take up the matter immediately." 



Mr. Charles J. Grieve, of Branxholm Park, Hawick, writes : — 



" Cause of increase : chiefly the want of Weasels, Stoats, and ground 

 vermin ; also Magpies and Hawks. The shepherds say there is not a 

 Weasel or Magpie to be seen. On the farm where the plague is at its 

 height half the sheep stock ought to be removed if other pasture could be 

 got, and not brought back till May. Many men are doing this as far as 

 they can." 



Mr. Alexander Laidlaw, of Gair, writes on Jan. 25th : — 



" You ask what I think the cause of their great increase is. I think 

 the cause is greatly due to the destroying of their natural enemies, the 

 Hawks, Owls, and Weasels, &c, which live mostly upon mice. The land 

 round about here has been let to game tenants for some years past — a thing 

 that was never done before — therefore the game watchers have destroyed 

 all the natural enemies of the mice. That is the general opinion in this 

 district of the great increase." 



