A HISTORY OF DERBYSHIRE 



in Derbyshire, especially in the south Derby- 

 shire plain, from which the adder is absent. 



The Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain, writing to me 

 on September 3, 1901, says: 'About four 

 examples have been killed in the Ashbourne 

 district since 1880 (one a large one, 4 feet 

 long), but they are by no means common.' 

 I recently examined a specimen 3 feet I inch 

 in length, in the possession of Mr. Adsetts of 

 Derby, which had been killed near Helper. 



Mr. Hutchinson informs me by letter that 

 he has received various specimens from the 

 vicinity of Derby, and he considers the ringed 

 snake ' fairly common ' in his locality. One 



example came under his notice as it was in the 

 act of swallowing a frog at Littleover, within 

 two miles of Derby. The ringed snake also 

 occurs at Bretby and near Woodville. I have 

 not heard of its appearance near Burton since 

 1885. 



4. Viper or Adder. Vipera berus, Linn. 



Very local. Almost confined to the north 

 Derbyshire moors. Has occasionally occurred 

 near the Leicestershire border, such specimens 

 being probably strays from Charnwood Forest, 

 Breadsall Moor (E. Brown) and Darley Dale 

 (A. G. Darwin). 



BATRACHIANS 



ECAUDATA 



1. Common Frog. Rana temporaria, Linn. 

 Common and generally distributed. 



2. Common Toad. Bufo vulgar is, Laur. 

 Common and generally distributed. 



CAUDATA 



3. Great Crested or Warty Newt. Molge 



cnstata, Laur. 

 Fairly common in ponds and ditches. 



4. Common or Smooth Newt, Eft. Molge 



vulgaris, Linn. 

 Triton punctatus, Latr. 



Rather more abundant than the last named 

 and found in similar situations. The species, 

 in common with the crested newt, is liable to 

 possess additional digits on both the fore and 

 hind feet. One individual taken at Stapen- 

 hill in July, 1 900, and which I kept alive for 

 some time, possessed five complete feet, an 

 additional limb being developed from the left 

 shoulder. 



