Title: The Canadian field-naturalist
Identifier: canadianfieldnat1932otta (find matches)
Year: 1932 (1930s)
Authors: Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club
Subjects:
Publisher: Ottawa, Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club
Contributing Library: Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Ernst Mayr Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Ernst Mayr Library

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178 The Canadian Field-Naturalist (Vol. XLVI
Text Appearing After Image:
Figure 1.—"Samson's Shoulder Stone"

areas, such as the jasper conglomerate, it is possibe
to determine the direction of movement of the ice
sheet with considerable detail.

"Samson's Shoulder Stone" lies scarcely more
than 100 feet south of the county road from
Perth to Franktown, at the point where it turns
northeasterly with a diagonal course across the
second concession of Drummond township.
This highway by way of Franktown and Eich-
mond is the original stage road from Perth to
Ottawa, and because it is by far the shortest route,
will probably, in time, become a provincial high-
way. The "Shoulder Stone"
therefore, although now
in an easily accessible locality, may even-
ually become even more accessible.

THE RED-BACKED VOLE (Clethrionomys gapperi loringi Bailey)

IN SOUTHERN MANITOBA
By STUART CRIDDLE, Treesbank, Manitoba

SO MUCH has been written about the
Red-backed and other Voles by eminent
mammalogists that I have hesitated to
add my observations to those already
published, but while the general habits of any one
species should be, and generally are, similar,
minor differences nearly always occur when the
animals live under different climatic conditions.
Therefore, since the habits of the Red-backed
Vole have not previously been studied in Mani-
toba it is hoped that the following notes will prove
of some interest.

While the Red-backed Vole has been recognised
by my brothers and me for about forty years, a
study of its innumerable activities did not com-
mence until 1905, while even to 1915 observations
were only carried on in a sporadic manner.
After the latter date the study was held in abey-
ance until my return from the war. In 1923 I
began making observations on caged voles with
the object of comparing their food and other
habits with those living under natural conditions
and on July 1, 1928, I commenced keeping a
daily record of all the small mammals caught
by my brothers Norman and Evelyn, my sister Maida
and me. The animals were examined for age and
sex and the measurements and weights of many
adults taken, while during the breeding season all
females were dissected and the ovaries inspected.
By the end of 1931, 4306 animals had passed
through my hands among which there were 462
Red-backed Voles comprising 212 males and 250
females. Although most of the work in connection with

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