246 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



minutus), the Water-Vole (Arvicola amphibius), a piebald variety 

 of the Field-Vole {A, arvalis), and the Bank-Vole (A. glareolus). 



To the Shrews I add the Oared Shrew (Neomysfodiens), and the 

 Little Shrew (S. minutus), which used to be called the "Irish Shrew 

 (S. hibernicus)," but I cannot positively say I have seen the latter 

 south of Waterbeach. The Oared Shrew I have not seen in South 

 Cambridgeshire for some years. I am now specially engaged in 

 looking out for it. My plan is to endeavour to trap these small 

 mammals in traps similar to mouse-traps. For Water-Shrews a 

 bait of fish is frequently irresistible ; they are wonderfully fond 

 of fish, and a piece perfectly fresh or a recently dead Stickle- 

 back will frequently entice them into the trap. The best time 

 to set the trap is early in the evening ; they are hungry when 

 they first come out of their burrows, and sniff about eagerly after 

 something eatable. If one has sharp eyes, and there is light 

 enough to see, it is interesting to observe how carefully a Shrew 

 quarters the ground in its search for food, going over every square 

 foot of it. Now and again it will stop and nibble a bit of grass, 

 for the Shrew seems to like a bit of greenstuff occasionally. 



It may not be generally known that Otters attack and kill 

 Water-Eats for food. Such is the case with those (few) I have 

 observed on the Granta and the Ehee. If I were guided by my 

 own personal observation of the South Cambridgeshire indi- 

 viduals, I should say that Otters do quite as much good by 

 destroying Eats as they do harm by eating fish. 



Foxes are more common in the south-east corner of the 

 county. There they have increased so much that they are 

 reported to be a serious menace to the Partridges, and some 

 people cry out for their extermination. 



I have hesitated to say more about the Fox than just mention 

 it, for fear I may be led by my enthusiasm to launch out into a 

 lengthy dissertation on this good old English sport, so exhilarating 

 and healthy. I wish it was always conducted after the example 

 of Sir Eoger de Coverley, and the Fox be allowed to keep the life 

 it has fairly fought for when it has made a good, game run. 



We used to be over at Wimpole a good deal when the Fallow- 

 Deer were there, and no one regrets more than I do that, except 

 for one or two I seem to recollect being in the grounds of Peter- 

 house College some years ago, these graceful animals disappeared 

 from the South Cambridgeshire fauna when the herd was sold. 



