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NOTES AND QUERIES. 



MAMMALIA. 



The Food of the Water-Vole. — I am convinced as to the carni- 

 vorous habit of the Water- Vole (Arvicola anvphibius), having on two or 

 three occasions seen the animal industriously engaged in the occupa- 

 tion. I like the little fellow, and have found him right merry com- 

 pany when loafing at eventide in the solitary places of our rivers and 

 broadlands. He is amusing by his frolicsomeness when he seems 

 assured there are no onlookers, and I should not like a hair of his 

 coat harmed by what I may say of him, for such animal food as he 

 may discuss is comparatively worthless. In the August of 1896 I 

 threw a couple of dead Eoach on a "rond" in Kendall Dyke, near 

 Hickling Broad, at the rear of my houseboat. Next morning but 

 a few bones and scales remained. Suspecting the Voles, I pegged 

 down another Eoach or two, and the Water- Voles — for such they 

 were — came again and had their supper. The late Sir E. Newton had 

 suggested to me some time previously that the number of broken 

 fresh- water Mussel- shells (Anoclonta cygnea), at Lound, were the work 

 of Voles. On Sept. 12th, 1896, I examined a number of broken shells 

 at Lound, amongst which lay the excrement of the animals in question. 

 One particular valve was always broken, probably being the easier of 

 manipulation. I actually observed a Vole (I was quietly fishing at 

 the moment opposite him) come out of the water, and drag a Swan 

 Mussel up the bank, which he had secured intact. 1 received a 

 communication shortly after from West Norfolk, pointing out to me the 

 partiality of Arvicola to the Crayfish. Above all, however, I think the 

 Water-Vole delights to feed upon the stems of the succulent grasses 

 growing in shallow ditches, and will remain in the centre of a clump, 

 selecting the finest, which, sitting at ease upon his haunches, he 

 nibbles, holding them between his fore paws with all the adroitness of 

 the Squirrel. — A. Patterson (Ibis House, Great Yarmouth). 



AVES. 



Late Redstart and Tree-Pipit, &c— On Nov. 16th, 1901, whilst 

 walking between Bexhill and St. Leonards, I saw a female Common 

 Redstart (Ruticilla phcenicurus) on a fence by the South Coast Railway. 



