Sub-Family MICROTIN.S. 
THE BANK VOLE. 
Evotomys glareolns, Schreber. 
Plate 31, 
Compared with the true mice, the distinctive character of the Voles 
lies chiefly in their short and rounded head, small eyes, short ears 
and tail, and a general stoutness of form caused by the thick and furry 
coat. 
Four species inhabit Great Britain, namely, the Bank Vole, the 
Field Vole, the Orkney Vole, and the Water Vole, while various 
sub-species have been noted. 
The most mouse-like of this group in character and form is the 
Bank Vole, which shows considerable variation in size, English specimens 
being usually rather smaller than those of Scotland. 
An adult male taken in Surrey measured from nose to root of tail 
barely 3! inches, the tail alone if^ inches. 
The colour of the upper parts in autumn and winter is a dark rusty 
brown, greyer on the flanks. The cheeks and under parts are grey, but 
often tinged with pale buff in the centre of the chest and belly. 
The feet are brownish grey. In summer the russet hue on the back is 
much brighter. 
This species is widely distributed in Europe and Asia. 
It was first described in England by Yarrel in 1832 and was 
soon found to inhabit a wide area in Great Britain. In Scotland it 
18 
