THE ZOOLOGIST. 



THIRD SERIES. 



Vol. VII.] FEBEUAEY, 1883. [No. 74. 



ON SOME REPTILIA AND BATRACHIA OBSERVED 



IN NORMANDY. 

 By G. T. Rope. 



The Slow-worm, Anguis fragilis, appears to be of common 

 occurrence in Normandy ; I met with it at Oisel, and again in 

 the neighbourhood of Dieppe. A single specimen of the Viper, 

 Pelias berus, was obtained in a large wood containing open 

 patches of heath, situated near La Bouille, a village on the 

 Seine, a few miles below Eouen. We met with only two or 

 three specimens of Rana temporaria during the month spent in 

 Normandy, R. esculenta being far more abundant. 



The Edible Frog, Rana esculenta, was abundant everywhere, 

 frequenting stagnant ponds, but was not found in running 

 brooks, or even in the ditches communicating with them. It is 

 shy and wary in the extreme, the sense of sight, and probably of 

 hearing also, being apparently well developed : it is only, indeed, 

 by using the greatest caution that a glimpse of the handsome 

 green^jacketed little fellow can be had as he sits on the bank of 

 the pond, perhaps a foot or two above the water, ready, at the 

 faintest suspicion of danger, to take one flying leap into the 

 pond, going at once to the bottom. In that element, however, 

 he seems to feel more secure, and many a sly-looking head may 

 there be seen with eyes and nose only above the surface, ready 

 to disappear at the shortest notice. In large ponds, however, 

 these frogs may often be seen floating at ease on the surface at 



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