Cycles in the numbers of British Voles (Microtus).

Abstract

In this paper a summary will be given of the evidence so far obtained regarding the existence of a cycle in the numbers of the common short-tailed field mouse, grass mouse, or vole, in Great Britain. Microtus hirtus is the common field vole in England and the south of Scotland, while Microtus agrestis is the species predominating in the Highlands and the north of Scotland.

The present investigation, which forms part of a scheme of research upon the numbers of wild rodents financed by the Empire Marketing Board, was carried out under the direction of Mr Charles Elton, to whom my thanks are due for continual advice and guidance throughout the work. I have also to thank Prof. E. S. Goodrich for allowing me the facilities of the Department of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy in Oxford. I regret that, except for the list of references given in Table I, it is impossible to acknowledge individually all those persons who are assisting in the work -naturalists, farmers, foresters, gamekeepers, and others throughout the British Isles, but I must express my appreciation of the assistance rendered by the staff of the Forestry Commission, Dr James Ritchie of the Royal Scottish Museum, the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, the Scottish Arboricultural Society, the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union and many other natural history societies, and numerous estate owners and factors who are co-operating in this investigation.