Functional representation of the Volterra hierarchy

In this paper I study the functional representation of the Volterra hierarchy (VH). Using the Miwa's shifts I rewrite the infinite set of Volterra equations as one functional equation. This result is used to derive a formal solution of the associated linear problem, a generating function for the conservation laws and to obtain a new form of the Miura and Backlund transformations. I also discuss some relations between the VH and KP hierarchy.Comment: 17 pages, submitted to Journal of Nonlinear Mathematical Physic