even more litters in a year. The number in the litter has ranged between four and seven. [1]
10. Mole. Talpa europtea, Linn.
If it were not for the mould excavated in their tunnelling, which breaks the level grass surface of meadows, and that their sharp teeth sever the roots of corn or other crops which they encounter in tunnelling, moles would be unmixed benefactors, both on account of the worms and grubs which they eat and their appetite is far larger in pro- portion to their size than that of (probably) any other mammal except the shrews and also on account of the surface drainage which their long tunnels produce. Moreover the ' hills ' which they throw up, though in the way in mowing grass, form, when spread about, the very best top-dressing. In com- mon with every other animal, they are con- stantly persecuted by man ; but as their natural enemies most of the carnivorous mammals and predaceous birds are so largely extirpated, it may be doubted whether their numbers are much diminishing. The young, about three or four in number, are born in or about April, in hills nearly 2 feet in height, lined with grass, constructed in any quiet place where the grass or other vegetation is long and fairly hides them. What may be considered a favourite site, for instance, is the enclosure round a rick in a corner of a mea- dow, which very likely remains unentered until the rick is cut. The young, when not too small, readily drink cows' milk from a tea- spoon, so could be easily reared. Having captured a mole one hot summer's day, which a friend and I waited for as it seemed to be working its way to the surface, and being close to the Thames, I experimented as to whether these animals can swim, by placing it gently in the water over the side of a boat. It struck out vigorously with its fore-paws, but floated in a nearly upright position, seem- ing not to understand how to maintain a horizontal one by the help of the hind limbs ; and it seemed evident that it could not cross anything wider than a very narrow ditch or brook. My experiment however was possibly not a complete one, as I very shortly rescued my captive from its evidently unsuited element. Mr. John Williams, Treasurer of the Bucks Architectural and Archaeological Society, Aylesbury, has a chocolate coloured mole stuffed, obtained at Broughton about 1884 or 1885. Captain Clark Kennedy (Zoologist, 1867) was told of a cream coloured example with pink eyes obtained near Eton (though whether on the Bucks or Berks side of the river is not stated) in the summer of 1865. The late Rev. H. Harpur Crewe mentioned in the Zoologist, 1878, p. 22, a pale orange coloured specimen obtained at Halton about the pre- vious November.
11. Common Shrew. Sorex araneus, Linn.
Apparently universally distributed, and probably far more numerous than the number seen (dead and alive) would lead one to sup- pose. Examples vary a good deal in colour and measurements.
12. Pigmy Shrew. Sorex minutus, Linn. BellSorex pygmæus.
I have seen and obtained a few lesser shrews on my land in Hambleden parish, but though the species is undoubtedly to a great extent overlooked, it appears to be much less numerous than the common species. The external differences between the pigmy and an immature common shrew of like size (putting aside the differences in dentition, which cannot be detected in living examples, and hardly in dead specimens without skin- ning them) are well shown in the figures in Bell's second edition, where however these points are not noted under the head of specific characters. The nose of the lesser species is somewhat longer, and more tumid and softer than in the common species, and the tail is thicker. The latter seems also to be more uniformly long than in the common species, in which its length is rather variable. In their normal coloration the two species are, I think, hardly distinguishable, but there appears to be more individual variation in the common species than there is in the pigmy ; though this may be simply due to the want of observation of a larger series of pigmies. Their colour, so far as I have had opportunity of noting, is snuff-brown, shading into brownish gray on the under side. In this respect, Bell's figure is unsatisfactory. Tail covered with hair, corresponding in coloration on its upper and lower sides with the upper and lower sides of the body.
13. Water Shrew. Neomys fodiens, Pallas.
BellCrossopus fodiens.
I have occasionally met with the water shrew near Great Marlow, though never in the immediate proximity of water. At Poynetts, my present home near Hambleden, I have obtained several examples, and one from a field in Turville half a mile or rather
- ↑ For this latter number see a letter by Mr. F. H. Parrott of Aylesbury, Zoologist, 1887, p. 424-
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