REPTILES OF DORSET. 9/ 



It is scarcely necessary in a list like the present to give much more 

 tlian the name of such a common and well kno-\vn reptile as this. 

 Few animals are more remarkable, however, than those of this 

 group in their transformations and some of their hahits. One can 

 liardly imagine a subject of greater interest to a lover of Nature 

 than the watching of the gradual change from the earliest tadijule 

 state to the perfect form. The common frog does not seem to be 

 over abundant, but is found throughout Dorset,* as well as England 

 generally, and in most localities, tliough, of course, moisture, in 

 the shape of river banks, wet ditches, ponds, and pools, as also 

 damp meadows, is essential to its well being. Unlike the toad, 

 which is found in all situations and in favourable weather is 

 constantly on the move crossing roads and pathways in thr 

 evening, the frog is more local and needs looking for. 



BUFO VULGARIS, Laur. 



Toad. Bell's British Reptiles, p. 115. 



Everyone knows a Toad T)y sight — its tumid form, murky 

 colour, warty or tuberculous skin, sluggish movements, neither a 

 walk, nor run, nor jump, but a sottish sort of crawl, Avith, if hurried, 

 a faint attempt at a hop, often ending in a lurch to one side or a 

 complete roll over. Its habits, though, of course, possessing, 

 like those of all other creatures, an interest of their own, present 

 nothing very remarkaljle to an ordinary observer. Like the frog 



* In his introductory paper to "Papers read before the Purbeck 

 Society," 1855, the Ptev. J. H. Austin says, p. 26 :— "That he has never 

 been able to ascertain the occurrence of the eounnon frog on the soutli 

 side of the chalk hills of Purbeck." His information respecting other 

 reptiles in Purbeck is also limited. He only mentions the Viper (two 

 varieties of colour— red and ordinary) and two species of Water Eft, but 

 conceives, though he has not any proof, that the Sand Lizard iniiabits tlie 

 Studland and Corfe heaths. I have before me a letter from the Kev. John 

 Bond, of Tynehani, in which he says that thei-e are certainly frogs to be 

 found within the limits mentioned by Mr. Austin, thougli they are 

 scarce. A few are to be found close to Tynehani, and one of remarkable 

 size and marvellous jtower of hopping— two or tinee yards at a time -was 

 seen in a hayfield tiiere during this past haymaking season. Tlie IJev. 

 Charles AVordsworth, Hector of Tyneham, also tells me that llie fro^' 

 occurs in this district, though the toad is the most common." 



