THE WATER VOLE. 
13 
OKDEB IV.—GLIBES. 
Genus Arvicola. 
Of this genus we know nothing as Irish, and this is not to be regretted, 
though they do not intrude upon the dwellings of man, like the species 
of the genus Mus. 
Four species of the Arvicolce are found in Great Britain, viz. — 
The Water Vole, Arvicola amphibius, Desm., 
Said to be found there pretty generally. I have remarked it to be very common 
about Leamington, in Warwickshire, on the banks of the Learn and the canals. 
The black variety (A. ater, Macgillivray) taken at Ballantrae, Ayrshire, was 
sent to me by my friend John Sinclaire, Esq., in August, 1842. It was found 
dead on the highway ; and another was taken about the same time in a mole- 
trap — contents of stomach, vegetable matter only. From the last-named local- 
ity Mr. Sinclaire also sent me the ordinary animal, which is much more com- 
mon. I make this observation in consequence of the remark of Mr. Macgillivray, 
that, in some of the more northern counties of Scotland, the black variety takes 
the place of the other. 
J. V. Stewart, Esq., gives this species in his catalogue of the mammalia of 
the County of Donegal ; but, in my opinion, erroneously. 
The Field Vole, Arvicola agrestis, Brit. Authors, 
I have found dead on roads in the north and south of England — about Newcas- 
tle-upon-Tyne, and in the Isle of Wight. It has, in some seasons, proved ex- 
tremely destructive in England. 
The Bank Vole, Arvicola pratensis, Baillon. — A. riparia, Yarrell. 
[See observations on this species, in Chari. Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. iii. p. 585; 
and in Ann. Nat. Hist, vol. vii. pp. 274 and 276.] 
Arvicola neglecta , Thomp. 
I had the pleasure of adding this species to the list of British animals. 
My notes on the species were communicated to the Rev. Leonard Jenyns, 
and published in the Annals Nat. Hist. vol. vii. p. 270 (1841). 
So early as October, 1829, my relative Robert Langtry, Esq., called my at- 
tention to this species in his shooting quarters, around Megarnje Castle (Perth- 
shire) ; but, as I had not then studied the mammalia, specimens of it were not 
preserved. The same gentleman, being some years afterwards requested to look 
out for and preserve any of these animals that might occur to him, found the 
species on his moor at Aberarder, in the north of Invernesshire ; and, on his re- 
turn thence, in 1838, brought me a specimen. A few others were seen, but 
were destroyed by the dogs ; and in the following year he supplied me with a 
dozen of them, of various sizes, from that locality. They are, however, by no 
means numerous. 
To my notes, published by Mr. Jenyns, I would only add, that the upper 
incisor teeth in adult males and females were one line and half long — lower 
incisors, two lines and a quarter. 
In February, 1846, Mr. Langtry informed me that the first individuals of this 
species which he saw were found in the room where the dead game was kept, 
in Megamie, and one or two were found dead about the door of the castle. 
I am not aware of any British specimens of this animal having been noticed 
excepting the above ; and, from the circumstance of its being overlooked, the 
name of Neglecta was given to the species — a name which Prince Buonaparte 
does not seem to approve of ; * but which appears to me not only unobjection- 
able, but good, as indicating a fact in connexion with the species. 
* Reports on the Progress of Zoology and Botany. — Ray Soc., 1841-42. 
