British Reptiles : Snakes Two Turtles 



yard long, and covered with horny plates. The limbs 

 are of the paddle shape ; head small but prominent ; 

 upper jaw curved over the lower, forming a hooked 

 beak ; shields dark brown, with light brown or yellowish 

 margins. " Tortoiseshell," as we know it in commerce, 

 is derived from this shell. 



The other Turtle referred to has been caught several 

 times in British waters. This one is popularly known as 

 the " Leathery Turtle " (Sphargis coriacea). It is quite 

 a ponderous creature, measuring 6 feet in length, of a 

 dark brown colour over the back, and the tail and legs 

 of a deep brown or black colour. There are well- 

 defined yellow spots on the upper surface. The fore- 

 legs are much longer than the hind ones. Naturalists 

 assert that this leathery skinned Turtle is the only 

 living representative of what was at one time an exten- 

 sive family in the reptilian world. At best neither of 

 these reptiles should be included in the British list, but 

 are named here merely on account of the fact that they 

 have been actually identified as vagrants nothing 

 more. 



CHAPTER IV 



BRITISH AMPHIBIANS I NEWTS 



IN Britain there are seven species of Amphibians. 

 Three of these own tails and are popularly called 

 " Newts." Four are tailless, and are known as " Toads " 

 and " Frogs." They are what naturalists designate cold- 

 blooded vertebrates. In most instances amphibians 

 B.R. 49 7 



