64 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 



or rather, but only just at one season of the year. 3 Countiy 

 people talk much of a water-snake, but, I am pretty sure, without 

 any reason; for the common snake (Coluber natrix] delights much 

 to sport in the water, perhaps with a view to procure frogs and 

 other food. 9 



I cannot well guess how you are to make out your twelve 

 species of reptiles, unless it be by the various species, or rather 

 varieties, of our lacerti, of which Ray enumerates five. I have 

 not had opportunity of ascertaining these ; but remember well to 

 have seen, formerly, several beautiful green lacerti on the sunny 

 sandbanks near Farnham, in Surrey; and Ray admits there are 

 such in Ireland. 



NOTES TO LETTER XVII. 



1 Toads lay eggs as frogs do. Every dweller in the country will be familiar 

 with the masses of jelly-like substance in the ditches which constitutes the 

 spawn of frogs. That of toads forms long strings instead of masses. 



2 There seems to be little doubt that the secretion which exudes from the 

 tubercles on the toad's skin is very offensive, and might irritate a delicate 

 skin. Dogs will not mouth them a second time. 



3 There are so many accounts of frogs actually falling with the rain, as well 

 as small fish, that the possibility of this happening should not be too incredu- 

 lously denied. It is possible, and indeed no other explanation can be enter- 

 tained, that they may have been swept up from the earth or water by a 

 whirlwind, as sticks and straws are, and then dropped down. Those who have 

 seen a reed stack carried into the air by a " rodges blast " on the Norfolk 

 marshes, would not consider this suggestion an impossible one. 



4 This pretty green frog which lives on trees, and is sometimes kept as a 

 pet, is not considered a native species. Mr. J. G. Wood says he saw a colony 

 of them in a hole in an apple-tree at Marston, near Oxford ; but they must 

 have been introduced there, or strayed from someone who kept them. 



5 There is but one species of newt, which goes through all its changes in the 

 water. The male has a beautiful waving crest along its back and tail. When 

 young it has gills ; but when it reaches the perfect state it has to rise constantly 

 to the surface to take in a supply of air. It is possible that by the term land- 

 eft, White may refer to the lizard, which belongs to a different family. Most 

 country people of the lower order are dreadfully afraid of newts or effets, and 

 think their bite is deadly. As a fact, however, they are quite harmless. 



6 The blind-worm or slow-worm does not need a blow to induce it to cast 

 off its tail. A sudden fright is sufficient. While you are looking at the tail 

 wrigg-iing and jumping about, the body quietly makes its escape. 



