THE LIVING WORLD. 
5ii 
of five-year old oaks and chestnuts, generally just below the surface of the 
ground. Hollies, also five or six feet high, were barked around the bottom; and 
in some instances the mice had crawled up the tree and were seen feeding on 
the bark of the upper branches. In the reports made to the Government on the 
subject it appeared that the roots had been eaten through, wherever they obstructed 
the runs of the mice. Various plans were devised for their destruction; traps 
were set, poison laid, cats turned out, in vain; nothing appeared to lessen their 
numbers. At last is was suggested that if holes were dug, into which the mice 
might be enticed, their destruction might be effected. Holes, therefore, were 
made, about twenty yards apart, being about twelve in each acre. These holes 
were from eighteen to twenty inches deep, and two feet one way by a foot and a 
half the other, and they were wider at the bottom than at the top, being exca¬ 
vated or hollowed under, so that an animal once in, 
could not easily get out again. In these holes at 
least thirty thousand mice were caught in the course 
of three or four months, that number having been 
actually counted and paid for by the officers of the 
forest. It was, however, calculated that a much 
greater number than this was taken out of the holes 
by weasels, hawks, owls and other birds. Cats, also, 
and dogs resorted to the holes to feed upon the 
mice , and many were destroyed by traps and by 
poison. In Dean Forest alone, the number killed 
was calculated at not much less than one hundred 
thousand. In the New Forest, from the weekly 
reports of the deputy-surveyor, about the same num¬ 
ber were destroyed; in addition to which it should 
be mentioned that these mice are found to eat each 
other, when other food falls short. Hence the total destruction of mice in these 
two forests would probably amount to more than two hundred thousand. 
Mice desiring to cross a stream make rafts of dried mushroom sacks, 
and embarking as a family party boldly sail the main, after the manner of 
squirrels. 
The Brown Water Vole (.Arvicola amphibius ), commonly named the 
water rat , has the body full; the neck very short; the head short, broad, rounded 
and convex above; the limbs small ; the tail rather long and slender, and the 
snout is small. The ears are short and entirely concealed in the fur. It has five 
toes on each foot. The general color of the fur above is dark-brown, the under 
parts and sides of the head, light brownish-red; the teeth are brownish-yellow, 
the eyes black, the nose dusky, the soles of the feet pale flesh-color, the claws 
pale yellowish-gray. , . . . , . r . , , 
The residence of the brown water vole is m the banks of rivers, brooks, 
canals, mill-dams and ponds, in which it forms long and tortuous burrows. It 
frequently betakes itself to the water, where it swims and lives with ease, and 
generally has an entrance to its retreat beneath the surface, so that in cases of 
danger it may effect its escape without appearing on land. In fine weather, 
especially in the morning and evening, it may often be seen sitting at the 
mouth of its hole, nibbling the grass or roots there; but m the middle of the 
day it usually remains under ground. 
SHORT-TAILED MOUSE. 
