74 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 



[I should now proceed to the answering some queries 

 in y last, and to congratulating you on the discovery of a 

 new Salicaria ; but having destined this epistle altogethei 

 to the service of reptiles, I shall stick to my text ; and defei 

 such matters 'til a further opportunity, ('til the next time 

 I have the honour to write to you). 



I am with the greatest esteem, 



Y r ' s &c., &c.] 



this work, to enter into any detail of the physiology of these animals ; but a fev 

 facts respecting one or two of them as occurring at Selborne may not be out o 

 place. Some years ago the natter-jack was by far the most common species o 

 toad in my garden, taking the place of the ordinary species, which was then com 

 paratively rare ; but for some years past not one of the former has been seen, 

 and no cause has ever suggested itself for its disappearance. Its voice was fai 

 more powerful and resonant than that of any of its congeners, and could be hearc 

 at a great distance, resembling almost deceptively that of the night-jar ; it was 

 however, only heard during the breeding season. Another remarkable peculiarity 

 was its fondness for hot and dry situations ; one in particular took its statior 

 under a stone close to a south wall, and was frequently seen peeping out from it; 

 hiding-place, and if taken up in the hand would immediately resume its positior 

 upon being placed on the ground. I have seen hundreds of young ones not large: 

 than the finger-nail on the heath at Wolmer, not far from the pond, where doubt 

 less they had been bred. The palmated smooth newt formerly inhabited a pone 

 on the common ; but I have not seen it for some years." [R. B. S.] 



