NATTER-JACK TOAD. 127 
as a British reptile, obtained his knowledge of it from Sir 
Joseph Banks; and we find from his account that it had 
been observed both “on Putney Common, and near Re- 
verby Abbey, Lincolnshire, where it is called the Natter 
Jack.” It is common on Blackheath, and in several other 
places in the neighbourhood of London ; I have found it in 
considerable numbers near ponds and ditches not far from 
Deptford, where they appear to have congregated for the 
purpose of breeding. Mr.Jenyns mentions Gamlingay 
Heath in Cambridgeshire, and two or three localities in 
Norfolk. It would appear that Dr. Fleming was not aware 
of its being an inhabitant of Scotland, as he does not add 
this to the formerly known localities ; but Sir W. Jardine 
has favoured me with the following account of its habitat 
in that part of the kingdom :—‘‘ The Natter-Jack Toad is 
taken in a marsh on the coasts of the Solway Frith, almost 
brackish (certainly so in winter), and within a hundred 
yards of spring-tide high-water mark. It lies between the 
village of Carse and Saturness (Southerness) point, where 
I have found them for six or seven miles along the coast. 
They are very abundant.” Sir William has sent me some 
specimens, which are in every respect the same as those 
found in the neighbourhood of London. The greatest 
number which I have ever known, however, is in my 
own garden at Selborne, where the species is far more fre- 
quent than the Common Toad. Dr. Broomfield has also 
found it in numbers on Short Heath near that place. 
The habits of this species differ in some respects from 
those of the Common Toad. It is Jess sluggish in its move- 
ments, and its pace is ordinarily quickened to a sort of run, 
its body being raised considerably above the ground during 
its progress. It is most probable that its reproduction, and 
all the stages of its development resemble those of the 
