LIDICKER 1971 Oct. 8 cont. J. Willis Student Tim Healey & his friend Morris. Shortly Mr. Tony Davies, the boatman arrived & we loaded our gear on his boat, recruiting 4 kids in his dinghy. Arrival on Skaer ~ 16.15, & after getting our gear carried up the cliffs to the warden's house, we set out for the prospective Skaer vole study area to set traps. The study area is to be just N of the old farm buildings which are in the centre of the island. The voles apparently prefer areas of broken fern with extra-sun litter under it & good drainage. We set out a small transect grid just W of the study area of 4 rows x 3 columns (12 stakes) at 20 yd. intervals. Then we set 4 longwall traps (crushed oats bait) at each stake - about 1 to 2 yds radius from stake. This was in an area of good broken cover. After dinner we chatted with the warden & his wife, Peter & June Corkhill, who were packing up to leave tomorrow for the winter. They will be going to the Camargue Nov. 1 for a trapping job, & then returning to Skaer in early March, 1972. Weather has mostly clear & mild. Oct. 9 After breakfast we picked up all our traps, marking & releasing the mice. Catch: Clethrionomys glareolus skomerensis - 27 Apodemus sylvaticus - 4 The voles are abundant, probably at least 200/acre,