84 THE MAMMALS, REPTILES, AND FISHES OF ESSEX. 



Class REPTILIA 



Order LACERTILIA. 



Family LACERTID^. 

 Genus LACERTA, Linn. 

 Lacerta vivipara,y#^. VIVIPAROUS LIZARD. Locally, "SWIFT." 



This active little creature is common in all parts of Essex, 

 especially so on all furze-covered commons or heaths. It may 

 often be found basking in the sun on a gate or rail, fully 

 exposed to the hottest rays, at the warmest period of the year. 

 I have several times seen specimens in which the tail was bifid, 

 possibly the result of an injury. One such is noted (Zpol, 

 1861, p. 7514.) 



Family ANGUID^. 



Genus ANGUIS, Linn. 



Anguis fragilis, Linn. SLOW WORM OR BLIND WORM. 



This is quite common everywhere. It is very extraordinary 

 that this perfectly harmless snake-like lizard should be so 

 generally considered venomous by country people, by some 

 of whom it is even more feared than the Viper. I have often 

 been cautioned of the danger I ran in handling such a 

 poisonous creature. I suppose, in time, better knowledge will 

 prevail ; but at present its strong resemblance to a snake 

 induces country people almost universally to destroy it. 



Order OPHIDIA. 

 Family COLUBRID^, 

 Genus TROPIDONOTUS, Kukl. 

 Tropidonotus natrix, Kuhl. COMMON, OR RINGED, SNAKE. 



This reptile is fairly common throughout the county, 

 abounding in wooded and marshy districts. Its fondness for 



