Field voles in thessaly. 321 



fields, and exposed to the sun, the vessels containing the chemicals 

 were easily heated ahove the boiling-point. The inconvenience 

 to the workmen, and the danger of fire, increased in proportion 

 to the temperature. The scattering of poison frequently resulted 

 in the poisoning of sheep, so that the country people were full of 

 distrust of this method. The nett result of the measures already 

 adopted was to be estimated at next to nothing in view of the 

 swarms of voles existing, and the extent of territory infested. 



My arrival was awaited with mingled feelings. Many, espe- 

 cially the owners of large estates, hoped that a thorough success 

 might be attained through the bacillus which I had discovered. 

 Others, and particularly the specialists commissioned by the 

 Government, did not entertain much hope of the success of the 

 bacteriological method, because, however satisfactory might be 

 the results obtained in the laboratory, the experiment had not yet 

 been tried in the open air. An unfavourable opinion had been 

 formed of my undertaking owing to the failure of the bacteri- 

 ological method in contending with the Australian rabbit-plague. 



No time was lost in carrying out the new method. Mice 

 abounded everywhere in the Plain of Larissa. By the advice of 

 Dr. Pampoukis, the land selected for the initiatory experiments 

 belonged to intelligent Greek owners of large estates, because 

 we could rely upon them to carry out my plans strictly. The 

 country people were mostly indifferent about the vole-plague. 

 The Turkish inhabitants of the country regarded it as a visitation 

 of God, which must be submitted to. In general they were 

 disinclined to try any remedial measures. The notions of the 

 Turks were well illustrated by their sending messengers to Mecca 

 to fetch holy water, with which to sprinkle the fields, and 

 thus, as they supposed, exorcise the mice. The peasants were 

 mostly very indolent, and required some pressure to make 

 them work. The Prefect of Larissa, M. Kleomenes, gave us the 

 greatest assistance in every way, and put soldiers at our disposal, 

 who were sent to the villages and compelled the peasants to take 

 the needful measures. The requisition of a military escort for 

 our personal safety, which seemed somewhat threatened by the 

 reports published in the German papers of the appearance of 

 mounted bands of brigands in Thessaly, proved quite unnecessary. 

 The news in the German papers was either incorrect or greatly 

 exaggerated, as was also the case with similar news in many 



