REPTILES 

 AND BATRACHIANS 



Very little need be said relative to the occurrence or the distri- 

 bution of the reptiles and amphibia of Warwickshire more than what 

 falls under the head of the different species. There is however one 

 which demands special mention, namely the palmated newt. It is 

 common and even abundant all over the oolitic district, including the 

 Cotteswolds and the adjoining parts of Oxfordshire, as well as the near 

 part of Warwickshire ; but the further from those districts the rarer does 

 it become, until it is quite uncommon, indeed rare in the valley of the 

 Avon. 



REPTILES 



1. Common or Viviparous Lizard. Lacerta 



vivipara, Jacq. 



Although not abundant the present species 

 occurs at several places in the county, namely 

 on a common near Claverdon ; in close 

 proximity to Warwick, where the writer has 

 seen it playing in and out of the rough stone 

 wall around the Priory ; and in the sand- 

 stone pits near the town. It has also ap- 

 peared near Ragley, and at several localities 

 at the foot of Edgehill, as at Avon Dasset 

 and Burton Dasset. Mr. J. Steele Elliott 

 records its former appearance in Sutton Park, 

 where however it has been exterminated. 



2. Sand Lizard. Lacerta agilis, Linn. 



The only localities in the county where 

 the present species has been observed are the 

 following : namely at two places on the Ridge- 

 way near Alcester, and in the refuse at the 

 mouth of some abandoned openings for gyp- 

 sum at Spernal, also near Alcester. But it 

 is rare at those localities. 



3. Slow-worm or Blind-worm. Anguh fra- 



gi/is, Linn. 

 Occurs in several places in the county but 



not numerously. It has been seen by the 

 writer at Claverdon, also near Wootton 

 Wawen, where it is not unfrequent. It is 

 more common in that part of the county 

 adjoining Oxfordshire, and occurs at Brailes 

 and near Compton Wynniates. At the above 

 places it has been observed by parties of geo- 

 logists, most frequently beneath large stones. 

 It was at one time found in Sutton Park, but 

 as we learn from Mr. J. Steele Elliott is no 

 longer to be seen there. 



4. Common or Ringed Snake. Tropidonotus 



natrix, Linn. 



A common and generally distributed species. 



5. Common Viper or Adder. Viper a berus, 



Linn. 



Though not abundant in the county the 

 adder (the name by which it is known) is 

 found wherever there are sandy or stony 

 places and the soil is not too retentive, but 

 is unknown on the fertile alluvial parts of the 

 county. All the specimens which have been 

 examined have possessed the normal colour, 

 none of the described varieties having been 

 observed. 



BATRACHIANS 



1. Common Frog. Rana temporaria, Linn. 

 Common and generally distributed. 



2. Common Toad. Bufo vulgaris, Laur. 



Less abundant than the frog, but yet of hedgerows or trees. 



187 



common almost everywhere. The toad is 

 frequently found in mid-winter in holes deep 

 under ground, and brought to light by the 

 removal of heaps of earth, or by the grubbing 



