266 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



But in ' The Mammalia of the Edinburgh District,' published a short time 

 ago by my friend Mr. William Evans, the author shows that there were at 

 least two other introductions to which, together with those turned out at 

 Glenbuck, we are indebted for the present stock of Mountain Hares which 

 are so widely and abundantly distributed over the southern uplands. 

 Mr. Clason, of Hallyards, procured a number of Blue Hares from the 

 north, and set them free on the top of one of the highest hills in the parish 

 of Manor, in Peeblesshire, in 1845 or 1846. There was also another 

 introduction on the Silverburn hills, the highest of the Pentlands, some- 

 where about the beginning of the sixties. — R. Service (Maxwelltown, 

 Dumfries). 



Variation in the Colour of Field Voles. — It is somewhat surprising, 

 considering the untold myriads of voles that have overrun the Scottish 

 sheep pastures for a year or two past, that so few variations in colour have 

 been reported. To be sure, one observer stated in a communication to the 

 Highland and Agricultural Society's ' Transactions' that they were " of all 

 colours," but the statement has been entirely uncorroborated, and I am 

 afraid there was exceedingly little foundation in fact for the remark. I have 

 not remarked any noteworthy aberration amongst those I have seen in 

 peregrinating through their haunts, but the shepherds have reported an 

 occasional pied example. I have, however, a very strong impression that 

 the " hill voles" are decidedly of a more smoky tint than those to be found 

 in the lower lands amongst the hedges and plantations. The latter seem 

 to develop a much ruddier colour on the fur along the back, and the general 

 tone of grey seems much brighter than that of the voles that have ravaged 

 the upland pastures. I lately received for examination (previous to its being 

 put into the hands of Mr. Mackay for preservation) a curious variety of the 

 Field Vole, Arvicola agrestis, from Mr. It. Bramwell, Blackaddie. It is not 

 an albino, although the fur, on a cursory examination, seems quite white 

 from nose to tail. On blowing the fur-tips aside it is seen that only about 

 one-fifth of the length of each hair is white, the remainder being a very pale 

 brown or fawn, but the fur being closely set it really appears to be all 

 white. The eyes are not pink, as in every albino, but they are much paler 

 than the normal eyes. The whiskers and the hairs on the tail are entirely 

 white. It would be interesting to hear of any cases of "albinism" or 

 " melanism" in this species. — R. Service (Maxwelltown, Dumfries). 



[Donovan has figured an albino example of this species (Brit. Quad, 

 pi. 48), and one was caught alive at East Bergholt, near Colchester, in 

 November, 1872. Mr. Borrer has in his collection a very pretty variety 

 which was captured near Horsham. It is of a uniform clear buffy white. 

 A pied specimen of this species was caught in a clover-field at Long Cross, 

 Chertsey, in July, 1866 (Field, July 27th, 1866). A black variety was 

 killed in a clover-field at Blaxhall, Suffolk, June 25th, 1886 (Zool. 1886, 



