ON THE DECREASE OF THE OAK IN BRITAIN. 183 



4. agilis. Common Lizard. I have also found a very blue and green 

 species, at Parley.* 



Order III. OPHIDIA, Ophidians, 

 iv. Anguis. Blindworm. 



5. fragilis. Slender Blindworm. G. W., &c 

 v. Natrix. Natrix. 



6. torquata. Ringed Natrix. G. W., &c. 

 vi. Vipera. Viper. 



7. communis. Common Viper. I have seen a variety all over red 

 in Portland, and several similar specimens on Cranborne Chace. 



Class IV. AMPHIBIA, Amphibians. 

 Order I. CADUCIBRANCHIA,+ Caducibranchians. 

 RANIDiE, Frog family, 

 i. Rana. Frog. 



1. temporaria. Common Frog. 

 ii. Bufo. Toad. 



2. vulgaris. Common Toad. 

 SALAMANDRID^E, Salamander family. 



iii. Triton. Eft. 



6. aquaticus £Qu. the Striped Eft, T. vittatus. — Ed.]. Near Maiden 

 Newton, Mr. Abraham and Mr. Lester. 



I propose continuing the Dorsetshire Fauna in a future number of The 

 Naturalist, if the above is suitable to your pages. 



ON THE DECREASE OF THE OAK IN GREAT BRITAIN. 

 By J. E. Davis, Esq. 



" Tout est utile dans ce bel arbre, Te'ncore, l'aubier, le bois, les feuilles, les fruits, le gui, plante 

 parasite ; Tespece de champignon qui est nomine" agaric de chine, la mousse meme, en un mot, les 

 diverses productions du chene tant naturelles qu' accidentelles, sout d'usage dans les arts ou en 

 medecine. Ainsi le chene majestueux, ornement de nos forets, jouit d'une juste preeminence sur 

 tous les arbres de l'Europe, puisqu'il la droit surtout a son utilite'." — Genus. 



England was once celebrated for the numerous and extensive forests of Oak 

 which it contained, as well as for the size and grandeur of the trees themselves ; 



* We are curious to see it ; could our correspondent conveniently favour us with a specimen ? 

 —Ed. 



f laterally, animals with deciduouB gills. — Ed. 



