VOLE, a name employed for several genera of rodents allied to the rats and mice and included in the family Muridae. The two common English forms are better known as the water-rat and the short-tailed field-mouse. Voles may be distinguished from rats and mice by their small eyes, blunt snouts, stouter build, inconspicuous ears, short limbs and tail and less brisk movements. They also differ in the structure of the cheek-teeth. The Euro pean field-vole (Microtus agreatis) is about the size of a mouse and does considerable damage to crops and garden-produce. The
water-vole (M. amphibius) is larger, diurnal and aquatic. Largely vegetarian, it will also eat insects, mice and young birds. It is absent from Ireland, but extends from England to China. Numer ous other species occur in Europe, north Asia and North America, while fossil voles occur in the European Pliocene. (See RODENTIA.)