RODENTS. 
“There be land rats, and water rats, 
Water thieves, and land thieves.” — Shakespeare. 
Water voles (Arvicola amphihius) are commonly 
called water rats. Few persons there are who are ac- 
quainted with the real water rat, although the great 
majority of people who reside near water speak of the 
water rats, and appear to know all about them ; but the 
fact is, that the common rat is so accustomed to the water, 
and is so frequently seen swimming about in it, and living 
on the banks of streams, ponds, rivers and canals, that by 
far the larger number of persons who talk of water rats 
have never met with the true water rat, but have mis- 
taken the common species {Mus decumanus) for it. 
The little animal which forms the subject of this is 
often, through this mistaken identity, blamed for the 
frightful depredations which are justly to be attributed to 
the common rat. The true water rat is one of the least 
to be feared, it being extremely harmless and inoffensive, 
living always about the margin of water, and feeding ex- 
clusively upon vegetable substances, principally the roots 
of aquatic and subaquatic plants. This pretty animal 
much resembles the beaver in miniature. The true water 
rat never attains to above half the size of the adult 
common rat ; and, moreover, is not only smaller, but has 
a shorter tail, and is covered with a soft velvety fur, much 
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