NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 
343 
In 1875 Mr. Higford Bnrr of Aldermaston Park, Eeading, 
sent me a white water-rat, a very rare specimen, Avith this 
letter : — " I caught our white friend when out fishing. I saw him 
swimming under water, and sank my bait, an artificial minnow, 
under him. As he swam over it, I jerked it up, and hooked 
him out. — Frank D. Fowler." This rare beast is the size of 
an ordinary water-vole, only it is perfectly white, and has pink 
eyes. I sent him to Mr. Bartlett, at the Zoological Gardens. 
He informs me that a white water-rat is very rare. Of course 
OLD ENGLISH BLACK RAT. 
this specimen is an albino water-vole, for a water-rat is very 
different from a house-rat. AVhite moles are not uncommon, and 
white house-rats are very common ; and I do not see why, in 
the ordinary course of things, there should not be white water- 
voles. 
Old British Bat. — From time to time I receive specimens of 
