140 The Official Guide to the 
the so-called WATER Rat, a vegetable feeder of most 
engaging habits ; the common FIELD VOLE, a terrible 
pest when too numerous ; and the ReD FIELD VOLE, or 
Bank Vole, a much rarer species. These are fol- 
lowed by the well-known SQUIRREL, and its miniature 
the DoRMOUSE, a rare animal in Norfolk. In the 
centre of the room is a very interesting object which 
ought to be referred to before we quit the Rodents, 
for although the work of an animal long since extinct 
in Britain, the BEAVER was formerly indigenous to 
these Isles. Some years ago a number of Canadian 
Beavers were liberated in Sotterley Park, Suffolk, and_ 
made themselves quite at home, felling trees to con- 
struct a dam after their manner, and the tree stool in. 
the case referred to is their work. They proved very 
destructive, and eventually strayed away and were 
killed, which, I believe, was not regarded as an 
unmixed evil by their introducers. Passing to the 
CHIROPTERA, several species of Bat will be 
noticed ; but there is by no means a complete collec- 
tion of British Bats. The HrpcrHoc, by far the 
largest of our British INSECTIVORA, is well known ; 
so also is the Mo gz, although it is most frequently 
seen gibbeted on a thorn as left by the mole-catcher. 
There is a singular white race of Moles, anything but 
uncommon in some parts of this county. The 
remaining Insectivores are the SHREWS, of which 
there are three, the Oared Shrew not now being 
considered a good species. 
Of the CARNIVORA, the BADGER 1s a very interesting - 
example. Formerly, doubtless, it was very numerous, 
of which there are frequent indications in local names 
derived from this species; but in the present day 
haunts suitable to its retired mode of life are much 
less common, and the “ Brock” suffers accordingly. 
The Fox stands upon an altogether different footing: 
