Wigtonshire1 and the Cheviots, and as we move north the two types become
larger, the colouring darker, and the density of coat, of the hill Voles especially,
still more pronounced. I have taken this species in the north of Sutherlandshire,
and have found it so grey and long-haired as almost to constitute a sub-species;
but the succession of intermediate varieties is so continuous and so well connected
that it is impossible to create a dividing line. Nevertheless the
Sutherland and Sussex Field Voles present the two extremes of the British Field
Vole, which in the course of its gradual northward journey has shown an
interesting adaptation to its surroundings. In nearly all examples the under parts
are greyish white or dull smoky grey, but I have seen two with pure white
bellies. A line of very dark brown hair extends along the upper surface of the
tail, the hairs of the under side being pale grey. The short hairs on the upper
surface of the limbs are also grey. The soles of the feet are naked.
The following are some measurements of British examples, the first two
being average examples:
Locality Sex Length of Head
and Body Tail Hind Foot
Horsham, Sussex <? 95 mm. 30 mm. 16 mm.
» „ ? 105 mm. 26 mm. ■' ■' iy mm.
Longendale, Cheshire $ 123 mm. 33 mm. 17 mm.*
Herefordshire . . . . — 120 mm. 33 mm- 18 mm.*
Cheshire . . . . 118 mm. 33 mm- 17 mm.
The dorsal hairs, which are dark grey in two thirds of their hidden length,
are in length about 10 mm. in Sussex specimens and 13 mm. in Sutherland ones.
D istribution.—The common Field Vole is found inhabiting most of the
arable lands of Europe. Its range extends from Northern Italy to Finland, and
from Spain to North Russia, whilst in Norway and Sweden another closely allied
form takes its place in the forest regions. In Great Britain it is found all over
England and Scotland, from Cornwall to Caithness. It is absent from Lewis,
1 I received an adult male from Netherby in Cumberland in April 1905, which was exactly similar to richly coloured
southern Scotch examples. The coat was far denser than that of any English specimen I have seen.
2 Capt Barrett-Hamilton, Proc. Zool. Soc. May 19, 1896. Unusually large examples such as these sometimes occur.
Mr. Tegetmeier mentions (Field, August 5, 1903) having received one from Masham, Yorkshire, which measured inches
(including the tail).