378 Mr. Jenyns on the Natter-Jack, 



the beginning of April; — though, in one instance, I noticed it as 

 early as the twelfth of March. The young broods appear iu 

 July. 



The tail of this animal as is well known, is extremely brittle, 

 and a very slight blow or pressure is sufficient to cause it to 

 separate immediately from the body. No blood issues from the 

 wound, but the severed part will continue to move backwards and 

 forwards, and to shew signs of life for a considerable time after- 

 wards. It is, however, easily reproduced; and until this operation 

 is effected, I am inclined to think that the individual retires 

 usually to some place of concealment ; having found it, under such 

 circumstances, in a languid quiescent state beneath the bark of 

 felled timber. 



ORDER II. Ophidia. 



Genxjs II. ANGUIS. Linn. 



Sj). 2. A. fragilis, Flem. Brit. Anini. p. 155. 



Common Blind- Worji. — This does not appear to be frequent in 

 Cambridgeshire. I have only observed it in one or two instances 

 in the neighboiu'hood of Bottisham. 



Genus III. NATRIX. Fkm. 



Sp. 3. N. torquata, Flem. Brit. Anim. p. 156. 



Ringed Snake. — This species, which is our common snake, ap- 

 pears to delight much in the water, and is particularly abundant 

 in the fens, where it sometimes attains a large size. It is gene- 

 rally first seen about the beginning of April. On the twenty- 

 second of that month, I have found the sexes in copulation ; 

 during which act, they are extended side by side in a straight 

 line. 



