HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. [159 



ditches. In March, enlivened by the warmth of spring, they rise to 

 the surface in vast numbers, and soon make a great croaking : the 

 young tadpole is a curious interesting little animal. 



LACERTA AGILIS The Common Lizard or Swift : Tail round, 

 scaly, five toes and nails on each foot, belly black, spotted. 



2. VULGARIS The Common Eft; Brown Lizard; Newt ; Asker: 

 Fore-feet four toes, hind-feet five, without nails, a brown line on 

 each side the head. 



3. PALUSTRIS The Water Eft or Lizard: Three or four inches 

 long, above black brown, beneath deep yellow, spotted ; feet like 

 the former. 



ORDER II. SERPENTES. 



COLUBER BERUS The Viper or Adder: Numerous on Canuock- 

 heath and Sutton Coldfield, and often seen on Morton-moors ; the 

 bite said to be very dangerous, yet swine and peacocks devour 

 them greedily. 



2. NATRIX The Snake: Swim very swiftly, prey on lizards 

 under water, very prolific if undisturbed; 70 have been destroyed 

 in one dunghill. 



ANGUIS FRAGILIS The Blind Worm : Common heaths and the 

 Moorland hills, perfectly harmless, though reckoned poisonous by 

 the peasantry. 



ORDER III. NANTES. 



PETROMYZON MARINUS The Lamprey: In the Severn and 

 Trent rivers. 



2. FLUTIATILIS TheLampern: In the Severn, about one foot 

 long. 



3. BRANCHIALIS The Nine Eyes : In rivulets, length five or 

 six inches. 



FISHES. 



ORDER I. APODES. 



Murana Anguilla (common eel). Plot says they are vivapa- 

 rous, and make journies by land, stocking waters themselves, being 

 night-walkers, and catch snails ; and adds, they will live six 

 days out of water. 



