REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS 



seen on the railway bank at Elmswell on 

 9 April 1903. Just over the Cambridgeshire 

 border at the ' Devil's Dyke ' a large snake 

 was observed by a friend of Mr. F. Norgate's 

 in September 1892. 



One reason given by Mr. Bateman ' for 

 the greater scarcity of this species as com- 

 pared with the viper, is that the eggs of the 

 former, often deposited in manure heaps and 

 similar situations, are very liable to injury 

 and often prevented from hatching, while the 

 more prolific * viper produces at one time 

 from thirty to fifty little viperlings, all ready 

 and able to fight their way in the world.' 



For an interesting account of the curious 

 behaviour of some sparrows and a robin in 

 the presence of a snake, see the Zoologist for 

 1869, p. 1918. 



4. Common Viper or Adder. Vipera berus, 

 Linn. 



Very much scarcer than it used to be, but 

 still found in many parts of the county. On 

 the irregular strip of heath land which runs 

 more or less parallel to the coast, extending 

 in places several miles inland, it was up to 

 thirty or forty years ago fairly common. 

 Here it probably subsisted principally on the 

 lizards which then abounded on the same 

 ground. At that time vipers were not un- 

 frequently carried into the neighbouring farm- 

 yards, among loads of furze, brakes (bracken) 

 and heather brought from the heath. Of 



late years Mr. H. Miller has met with 

 examples at Nacton and Alnesbourne, as 

 well as in woods at Bentley, Raydon and 

 Brantham, and Mr. Hudson has until lately 

 found this reptile common at Foxhall near 

 the decoy. From the heath about Blaxhall, 

 Tunstall and Iken, it has almost entirely dis- 

 appeared. At Gedgrave one was lately killed 

 by a waggoner with his whip while it was 

 crossing the road, and was preserved by Mr. 

 Hudson of Ipswich. Vipers were formerly 

 common about Blyth burgh, Westleton and 

 Dunwich, but according to various observers 

 their numbers have greatly diminished. In- 

 deed intelligence received from several parts 

 of the county agrees with respect to the in- 

 creasing scarcity of this reptile in comparison 

 with former times. In very few districts 

 does it still appear to be at all abundant. 

 Mr. W. M. Crowfoot considers it not un- 

 common in the neighbourhood of Beccles, 

 and has found the red variety in Worlingham 

 Park. He was also told by Colonel Leathes 

 of Herringfleet Hall, some 4 or 5 miles from 

 Beccles, that they were a great deal too com- 

 mon in that parish. Mr. H. Lingwood, in a 

 letter to the writer, states that it is frequently 

 met with in the neighbourhood of Needham 

 Market, also that he has known it take the 

 water like the common snake. Mr. F. 

 Norgate killed two vipers at Tuddenham 

 St. Mary near Mildenhall in May 1893, 

 and has occasionally met with them there in 

 previous years. 



BATRACHIANS 



ECAUDATA 



1. Common Frog. Rana tempararia, Linn. 



Locally, Fresher or Freshy. 

 Plentiful in low and moist situations in all 

 parts of the county. A handsome variety is 

 sometimes met with, in which the upper 

 parts are of a rich chestnut with darker spots 

 or blotches, the under parts yellow, splashed 

 and sprinkled with light scarlet or blood red. 

 This occurs about Blaxhall, Farnham and 

 the surrounding district. The writer has 

 also seen a specimen near the river Stour at 

 Bures, and it is probably to be found in other 

 parts of the county. 



2. Common Toad. Bufo vulgaris^ Laur. 



Locally, Hopping-toad. 

 Common. Breeds abundantly in many 

 ponds and ditches (though by no means in 



' The Ovarium, by the Rev. Gregory C. Bate- 

 man, A.K.C., p. zzz. 



all of them) throughout the county. Great 

 numbers both of toads and frogs are de- 

 stroyed and partly devoured at the com- 

 mencement of the spawning season by rats. 



3. Natterjack Toad. Bufo calamita, Laur. 



This very local species occurs in more than 

 one part of the county, showing as elsewhere 

 a decided partiality for the sea coast. It is 

 found at Belton near Yarmouth, Herringfleet, 

 St. Olaves, Southwold and Walberswick.* 

 From thence, following the coast line in a 

 southerly direction, we come to Aldeburgh, 

 where in August 1882 the Rev. H. A. 

 Macpherson observed examples in warm 



' At Herringfleet it has been observed by Mr. 

 H. Miller of Ipswich, as well as by Colonel 

 Leathes, who has also seen specimens at St. Olaves. 

 Both Mr. Miller and Mr. E. R. Cooper have met 

 with this species at Southwold, and at Walberswick 

 it has been noticed by Mr. Cooper and the pre- 

 leat writer. 



175 



