21(j tHE ZOOLOGIST. 



white breast, which contrasts very strikingly with the brown fur of the 

 sides and back.— D. A. Boyd (Proc. N. H. Soc. Glasgow, 1890, p. 293). 



Varieties of Arvicola amphibia. — As Mr. Aplin asks for information 

 with regard to the distribution of the black variety of the Water Vole, he 

 may be interested to know that it is by no means infrequent in Norfolk. 

 I have seen many entirely black specimens, but never remember to have 

 met with any individuals intermediate between this and the normal colours. 

 The late Mr. Lubbock was quite of opinion that this variety, as I believe 

 it is rightly regarded, was entitled to specific distinction. He says, in an 

 unpublished note, which I have quoted in the second edition of his ■ Fauna 

 of Norfolk' (p. 10, note) : — " I have examined many of these animals when 

 dead, and have watched their habits when alive, and I must believe that 

 the difference of colour in this case arises from diversity of species. The 

 brown are considerably the largest ; and in the spring, when they may be 

 seen often in pairs, I have never observed a brown and black one together, 

 but the colours always correspondent. At that season they may frequently 

 be seen feeding close together at the entrance of their hole, and examined 

 at the distance of a few yards." Professor Newton told me that the black- 

 furred was the only form of this animal which he used to meet with at 

 Elvedon, near Thetford. I have seen several white varieties of this animal. 

 In September, 1872, Mr. K. B. Leeds shot a pure white Water Rat with 

 pink eyes at Castle Acre, near Swaff ham. Mr. Gunn records the occurrence 

 of another in ■ The Zoologist' for 1866 (p. 152), also an example killed 

 at Cossey, near Norwich, on July 16th, 1880, in 'Land and Water' for 

 Nov. 13th of that year ; and I saw a pure white Water Rat at Mr. Roberts' 

 of Norwich, killed near this city, in October, 1880. The black variety of 

 A. agrestis, referred to by Mr. Aplin, was sent to be preserved by Mr. Gunn, 

 at whose shop I saw it, and it was a beautiful little animal, pure black. — 

 Thomas Southwell (Norwich). 



Lepus variabilis in North Wales.— On April 6th last I was surprised 

 at seeing two Mountain Hares on the top of a hill near Snowdon, at a 

 height of somewhere about 2500 feet. Both were apparently quite white, 

 although the winter in that district had been unusually mild. Messrs. 

 Harvie-Brown and Buckley, however, say that some they saw in Harris 

 were " as pure white as they well could be at the end of April" (' Fauna 

 Outer Hebrides,' p. 39). There were probably a good many more than the 

 couple I saw, for some gentlemen who climbed the mountain on the same 

 day stated that on the summit they had seen " some white things running 

 about ; " but I did not observe them on any of the neighbouring hills, and 

 was unable to get any further information regarding them. Is it known 

 whether the species has been introduced into this district? And if so, 



