NATTER-JACK TOAD. 



117 



a British reptile, obtained his knowledge of it from Sir 

 Joseph Banks ; and we find from his account that it had 

 been observed both " on Putney Common, and near Rever- 

 by Abbey, Lincolnshire, where it is called the Natter Jack." 

 It is common on Blackheath, and in several other places in 

 the neighbourhood of London ; I have found it in consider- 

 able numbers near ponds and ditches not far from Deptford, 

 where they appear to have congregated for the purpose of 

 breeding. Mr. Jenyns mentions Gamlingay Heath in Cam- 

 bridgeshire, and two or three localities in Norfolk. It would 

 appear that Dr. Fleming was not aware of its being an inha- 

 bitant of Scotland, as he does not add this to the formerly 

 known localities ; but Sir W. Jardine has favoured me with the 

 following account of its habitat in that part of the kingdom : 

 " The Natter- Jack Toad is taken in a Marsh on the coasts 

 of the Solway Frith, almost brackish (certainly so in winter), 

 and within a hundred yards of spring-tide high-water mark. 

 It lies between the village of Carse and Saturness (Souther- 

 ness) point, where I have found them for six or seven miles 

 along the coast. They are very abundant." Sir William 

 has sent me some specimens, which are in every respect the 

 same as those found in the neighbourhood of London. 



The habits of this species differ in some respects from 

 those of the Common Toad. It is less sluggish in its move- 

 ments, and its pace is often quickened to a sort of run. It 

 is most probable that its reproduction, and all the stages of 

 its developement resemble those of the Common Toad ; but 

 on these subjects some additional information is required. It 

 is probably even more capable of sustaining drought than the 

 Common Toad, and is frequently found in dry situations, 

 resorting to the water only for the purpose of breeding. 



The general form of this animal is similar to that 

 of the last-named species ; it is ? however, less tumid ; 

 the eyes are much more prominent, and are, in fact, ele- 



