MAMMALIA 83 



EED FIELD VOLE. 



Arvicola glareolus (Schreb.). 



This species was first ascertained to be resident in Lakeland 

 in March 1887, when Mr. Richard Mann forwarded to me for 

 identification a fresh specimen, which had been ' turned by the 

 plough ' at Aigle Gill, near Allonby. Mr. William Duckworth 

 previously felt confident that he had seen the species on King 

 Moor, near Carlisle, as did his brother, Mr. Tom Duckworth ; 

 but they had never been able to fortify their opinion by securing 

 a specimen for examination. In December 1887 Mr. E-. Mann 

 favoured me with additional specimens of the Bank Vole. Two 

 of these I kept alive for some weeks, at the end of which I found 

 that our special favourite had been killed and scalped by his 

 companion, a mouse of sullen and untameable disposition. The 

 deceased was a Vole of charming temperament, always gay and 

 cheerful, delighting to exercise his muscles on a ' wheel,' working 

 at it with all his might, his tail straightened with pleasure. 

 When a little tired he would whisk out of the ' wheel,' and 

 refresh himself with a nibble at an apple before he returned to 

 his gymnastics. He often amused himself thus during the day, 

 but it was generally about half-past one in the morning that he 

 became most active. His practice then became so noisy as to 

 deprive me of sleep, and eventually I was compelled to fix the 

 wheel before retiring. In January 1891 I received three more 

 Bank Voles from my friends at Aigle Gill. These had also been 

 captured in the centre of the heaps of turnips among which they 

 lie up for the winter. They are only found on one part of the 

 farm, a dry and fairly elevated situation, and are partial to the 

 skirts of a small wood. I have not hitherto met with any Bank 

 Voles during my rambles through Westmorland or Furness. 

 The species is in all probability extremely local in Lakeland, 

 but is sure to be found sooner or later in additional localities. 



