The Zoologist — September, 1871. 2759 



Reptilia. 



Common Lizard. — Frequent on heaths, hedge-banks and dry 

 places. Local name " swift." 



Slow-worm. — Not uncommon on heaths and in dry woods. The 

 Rev. H. T. Frere finds it very common at Burston, and remarks a 

 curious partiality displayed by it for some particular spot. " Every 

 year," he says, " I see one or two close to one of my gates, and 

 again on a particular grave in the churchyard; in neither case is 

 the favourite spot more than a square yard." In Norfolk, Mr. F. 

 Norgate says, the slow-worm is called the " glow-worm," the real 

 glow-worm being called the " glaze-worm." 



Common Snake. — Not so common as formerly, but still abundant 

 in places. This species takes to the water readily, and is a capital 

 swimmer; it is said to swim across Fritton Broad, which is nearly 

 a mile in width. Mr. Gurney has frequently found the remains of 

 toads in snakes which he has dissected. 



Viper. — Frequent. Heaths and waste places. A red variety 

 occasionally occurs. 



Common Frog. — Common. The edible frog has been found at 

 large in Norfolk, and claimed as an indigenous species, but there 

 does not seem to be suflBcient evidence to support the claim. 

 Large numbers were imported and turned loose by Mr. George 

 Berney in 1837, 1841 and 1842, previous to which time there is no 

 certain evidence of their having been met with. 



Common Toad. — Common, 



Natterjack Toad. — More local than rare, being found abundantly 

 in many localities in Norfolk. 



Great Water Newt. — Common. LocaUy the Tritons are called 

 " efts." 



Common Smooth Newt. — Common. Mr. Norgate has found 

 them at night-time in winter by the road-side "apparently 

 migrating." Mr. Gurney sends me the following note on this 

 species : — " Although this reptile may usually be handled with 

 impunity, it is sometimes the fact that its skin possesses a noxious 

 property which communicates a painful stinging sensation to the 

 hand and arm of a person handling it, which does not abate for 

 several minutes and seems very similar to that produced by hand- 

 ling the common jelly-fish and other Medusae, some of which are 

 more noxious than others. In the spring of 1869 a well-marked 



