THE GUERNSEY VOLE. 



37 



surprising result, if likely hibernating quarters such as caves, 

 cellars, lofts, old trees, &c, were searched during the coming 

 winter. The Water- Yole might turn up if such localities as 

 the marshes at Rocquaine and Vazon Bays were trapped. 

 L'Ancresse Common offers a fine field for trapping also. The 

 large yellow-necked variety of the Long-tailed Field Mouse 

 (Mus sylvaticus var. JlavicollisJ, although its presence does not 

 seem probable, has yet to be definitely listed as absent from 

 Guernsey. And then the neighbouring islands of the Bailiwick 

 have still to be worked. I wish sufficient enthusiasm could be 

 aroused amongst the Guernsey naturalists to settle these inte- 

 resting problems. If they could be influenced in this way 

 (and surely the discovery of Microtus sarnius as a new species 

 should awaken some local interest), I feel sure the Island will 

 reward them for their trouble. Has the Society a Committee 

 or section devoted to Mammals ? In any case I am enclosing 

 directions for the preservation of small skins in the hope that 

 they may be of use to someone, and I shall be glad to do any- 

 thing I can to help. If skins or specimens in the flesh are sent 

 to me I will get them critically determined. Mr. Sinel sent 

 me, a few days ago, part of a stoat's skull from St. Ouen's, 

 which is interesting from the fact that it has never had its full 

 complement of upper adult molars — no doubt an abnormality. 

 I want stoats badly from all the islands. 



"The foregoing remarks on Microtus sarnius are, I 

 am afraid, hardly in a fit state for publication, but if of any use 

 they are quite at the service of the Society." 



It may be well to append to Mr. Bunting's interesting 

 notes the original description of the Guernsey Vole, as given 

 by Prof. Miller in the An. & Mag. of Nat. Hist, for May, 

 1909, omitting some of the technical details which would not 

 be of much use to a non-specialist. 



Microtus sarnius, sp. n. 



Type collected at St. Martin's, Guernsey, July 23, 1908, by 

 R. H. Bunting. Like the large forms of Microtus agrestis but 

 middle upper molar with second inner triangle absent. Colour 

 above essentially as in M. agrestis, though somewhat less dark 

 and reddish ; underparts a strongly contrasted light grey. 

 Measurements : Head and body 118 mm. ; tail 42 ; hind foot 

 18*5 ; condylo-basal length of skull 27*8. Eight specimens 

 examined, all from Guernsey. While its external and cranial 

 characters show that this species is a member of the Microtus 

 agrestis group, the pattern of its enamel folding is exactly 



similar to that of M. arvalis The eight specimens, 



though representing all ages from less than half -grown young to 

 fully adult, show no noteworthy variation in colour or in teeth. 



