142 THE ZOOLOGIST* 



" This Vole differs from all others with which we are acquainted in 

 the extreme shortness and peculiar colouring of the tail, and in the 

 density of the hairiness of the soles. It would appear to be most 

 nearly allied to A. arvalis, from which it is at once distinguishable by 

 its proportions and by the number of plantar tubercles. In general 

 appearance it bears a strong resemblance to A. Stoliczkanus, Blanford, 

 from Yarkand ; but that animal has not only a yellowish-white tail, 

 but belongs probably to the subgenus Paludicola, Blasius, the first 

 lower molar having only seven cemental prisms. It seems not at all 

 improbable, on the other hand, that our animal may be identical with 

 A, leucura, Swertzoff ; his diagnosis is not impertinent, although he 

 says that the tail is one-fourth the length of the body, and white with 

 a black tip. But in any case his name cannot stand, being preoccupied 

 by the A. leucurus of Gerbe, which Blasius and Fatio have united with 

 A. nivalis of Martius. We therefore propose to name our species in 

 honour of our friend Dr. Giinther." 



Thus far Messrs. Danford and Alston. They say nothing 

 about the haunts, habits, or food of the animal, leaving it to be 

 inferred that these do not materially differ from what has been 

 observed of better-known European species. 



Under these circumstances it seems desirable to place on 

 record such observations as I was enabled to make concerning 

 its habits in Thessaly, premising that the season of the year at 

 which I was in the country — namely, during the month of 

 January — was by no means favorable for such observations. 

 Unusually severe weather prevailed, and before the end of the 

 month the great plain of Larissa was covered with snow. Innu- 

 merable burrows were to be seen in the fields and along the 

 railway embankment between Velestino and Larissa, but the 

 Voles were all under ground. 



It was observable that the Thessalian Voles, except when 

 feeding, dwell less upon the surface of the land than do their 

 Scottish congeners. The " runs " or " galleries " of the latter 

 may be seen in all directions on ground which is infested by 

 them, and an ordinary walking-stick will suffice to dislodge the 

 occupants. The burrows of the former, on the contrary, are 

 more perpendicular than horizontal, and extend very often to 

 such a depth that the extremity of a burrow can only be reached 

 with the aid of a spade. For this reason it is comparatively easy 

 to apply a remedy in Greece which would fail in Scotland, 

 namely, the injection into the burrows of bisulphide of carbon, 



