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List of Reptiles /ound in Gloucestershire. 

 By John Jones. 



Although the following list will not be found to diSer, as regards the 

 number of species recorded, from that of many other British localities, 

 I am induced to offer it to the Cotteswold Club, for the purpose of 

 calling attention to habits of some of the animals named, which have not, 

 I believe, been noticed by the authors of popular publications in which 

 they have been mentioned. 



Chelonia imbricata, the Hawk's Bill Turtle, is said by Dr. Turton to 

 have been taken in the Severn in the year 1774, and having since been 

 taken in the river Parret, in Somersetshire, as recorded by Mr. W. 

 Baker, of Bridgewater, in the proceedings of the Archaeological Society 

 of that county, I presume to record it as an occasional visitant of 

 ourselves. 



Zootoca vivipwra, the Viviparous Lizard, is not uncommon upon dry 

 banks, particularly in the Forest district and about May Hill. It is 

 probably equally common throughout the district ; but from its timidity, 

 combined with the correspondence of its colour with the ground upon 

 which it basks, and the rapidity with which it retires upon being 

 approached, it generally eludes observation. 



Anguis fragilis, attct., the Blind or Slow- worm. Coramon. 



Natrixc torquata, the common Ringed Snake. One of these, which I 

 kept for a few months, I have seen dart at flies upon a sunny garden 

 wall. Is it in wait for this kind of prey that it basks in sunny places, 

 and not merely for the enjoyment of warmth ] 



Vipera communis, the Adder or Viper. By no means uncommon, and 

 in many places where its existence is not suspected. Particularly 

 abundant in the Box wood at Boxwell, where it is said to attain to a 

 larger size, and to assume brighter markings than usual 



Rana teviporaria, the common Frog. Everywhere. 



Bufo vulgaris, the common Toad. Common everywhere, but requiring 

 further obsei-vation as to its breeding places to modify certain ideas 

 respecting it, which appear to have been stereotyped for popular Natural 



