84 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



REPTILES. 



Smooth Snake in Surrey. — No one could be better pleased than myself 

 to hear that the range of Coronella lavis is extending. But the description 

 given of the one seen by Mr. Ridley at Chobham Bridges does not tally 

 with what I have observed around Bournemouth. From my experience it 

 is (when first caught) wild and fierce. I had three last summer, which, 

 when first introduced in the same case, were continually biting one another. 

 Sometimes in their anger they would roll themselves together in a knot, 

 biting fiercely, and whenever handled they would turn and bite, but after a 

 week or so two of them became more amiable. One I had some time ago 

 was of like temperament, and in two instances drew blood. I have kept 

 many Grass Snakes (Natrix torquata), but have never known them to bite. 

 The Sand Lizard [Lacerta agilis) occurs freely in this neighbourhood, and 

 is, as a rule, very fierce. I should be inclined to think the Snake which 

 Mr. Ridley saw was either a tame one set at liberty, or had been injured in 

 some manner. I must express my admiration at that gentleman's conduct 

 in refraining from taking such a rarity- — S. B. Axfokd (Bournemouth). 



B ATRACHIANS. 



The Natterjack Toad in Suffolk. — ' The Zoologist ' for December last 

 contains a note from Mr. Macpherson relating to the occurrence of the 

 Natterjack at Aldoburgh. This is one of the few spots in Suffolk where 

 this very locally-distributed species is to be found. A colony of them breed 

 annually at a place called Coldfair Green, some three or four miles from 

 Aldeburgh, the spot chosen being a sandy common, crossed by a small 

 stream, which here becomes widened out, so as to form a sort of shallow 

 pool, communicating with various other small ponds or creeks, and runs 

 eventually into the mere at Thorpe, close to the town of Aldeburgh. In 

 the month of April, during the spawning season, and more especially at 

 night, their loud ringing cry may be heard at a considerable distance, the 

 blending of their numerous voices forming one continuous murmur, not 

 unlike that caused by distant Hocks of sheep or of rooks, the effect of which 

 is far from disagreeable. Their croak is totally distinct in character, both 

 from the deep solemn bass of the Frog and the chirping treble of the 

 common Toad. There are several cottages within less than a stone's throw 

 of their breeding place. Natterjacks are also found, I believe, on the coast 

 near Bawdsey, a few miles north of the mouth of the Deben, but I have no 

 personal knowledge of their whereabouts at that place. I found them this 

 year congregated at Coldfair Green in great numbers on the 22nd of April, 

 and there were still a few in the water on the 4th of May. As regards their 

 apparent partiality to the sea coast, the occurrence of this species in Scot- 

 land, in great abundance, on the shoes of the Solway Frith, as mentioned by 

 Bell in his ' British Reptiles,' and within a hundred yards of spring-tide high- 

 water mark, might also be adduced as evidence. — G. T. Rope (Blaxhall) 



