286 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Sinclair also sent me the ordinary animal, which is much more 

 common."* The only form which Macpherson has been able to 

 procure from the banks of the Clyde is the common brown 

 animal, but Mr. J. M. Campbell has incidentally alluded to the 

 occurrence of the black form ; while Mr. James Lumsden states 

 (in a paper entitled " The Mammals of the Neighbourhood of 

 Loch Lomond"), "Both the brown and black varieties of this 

 species are common on the banks of the streams and rivers of 

 our neighbourhood, and on some of the islands of the loch."t 



Scottish Solway. — Mr. R. Service writes to Macpherson that 

 " The black variety of the Water Vole is very frequently found 

 throughout this district. It might almost be said to occur in 

 family parties. At all events, I once got three of them out of 

 one potato-pit. On another occasion I got an old female and a 

 half-grown young one together that may have been parent and 

 offspring." Mr. A. Buchan-Hepburn writes to Aplin (Jan. 9th, 

 1891) :— " Noting your enquiry in 'The Field' re Black Water 

 Vole, I may state that it is fairly common in some of the 

 open drains on the property of my brother-in-law, Mr. James 

 McDonaJl, of Logan, Wigtonshire. The exact locality is about 

 twelve miles from the Mull of Galloway. The Black Water Voles 

 make charming pets : my nephews have kept them on several 

 occasions." 



II. England. 



As regards England, evidence of the existence of this variety 

 is less satisfactory. 



Northumberland.— Not reported by several local naturalists 

 with whom we have conversed. 



Durham. — Not reported to us. 



Cumberland. — Reported once to have been taken near White- 

 haven, but this is doubtful. Mr. Tremble once killed a black 

 specimen on Burgh Marsh; and Mr. H. Leavers saw a coal-black 

 Water Vole on the Eden in June, 1891. These are the only 

 authenticated specimens, though search for the black variety has 

 been made for some years. 



Westmoreland. — Mr. W. E. Beck with reports that this variety 

 is found in the neighbourhood of Windermere. His experience 



* ' Natural History of Ireland,' vol. iv. p. 13. 

 f Proc. Nat. Hist. Soc. Glasgow, iii. p. 190. 



