Clare Island Survey. 



18 

 REPTILIA AND AMPHIBIA. 



By E. R SCHAEFF, Ph. D., B. Sc. 



Rend June 24 ; Published September 4, 1912. 



REPTILIA. 



It is a well-known fact that only a single species of reptile is native to 

 Ireland. No discoveries in that group of animals were therefore to be 

 expected in Clare Island. All that could be hoped from the Survey was to 

 definitely ascertain whether this solitary Irish reptile — the Common Lizard 

 (Laceria vivipara) inhabited Clare Island as well as the adjoining mainland. 

 In recording the capture of three specimens on Clare Island it is satisfactory 

 to note the Lizard's occurrence on this western outpost of Europe. The first 

 specimen was taken by Mr. Praeger on high ground among heather on the 

 slopes of Croaghmore about 500 feet above sea-level. The two others were 

 discovered at Portlea, not far from the sea-shore — one by Dr. Chaster, the 

 second by Dr. Patten. 



Dr. Leighton's 1 statement that the Lizard is somewhat local and irregular 

 in its Irish distribution is, I feel sure, incorrect. William Thompson's 2 verdict 

 that it is common throughout Ireland in suitable localities is nearer the 

 mark. It is undoubtedly indigenous to the country, and probably owes its 

 survival from the past to the fact that it is a viviparous species, and is not 

 dependent, like most reptiles, on the heat of the sun's rays to bring forth its 

 young. 



No one has ever suggested the possibility of the Lizard being a 

 comparatively recent introduction. And yet, in spite of its being an old- 

 established native, it is curious that there is no name in the Irish language 

 for Lizard. If a Lizard is shown to a Gaelic speaker, he calls it an " e&]\c 

 lu&cp&," but that is the name for the Newt; and it seems evident that the 

 ancient Irish, as so many people do even nowadays, confounded these two 

 animals, which, though externally somewhat similar in appearance, belong to 

 entirely different classes of the Animal Kingdom. 



1 Leighton, G. R. : " The life-history of the British Lizards." Edinburgh. 1903. 



2 Thompson, W. : " Natural History of Ireland," vol. iv. 1856. 



R I. A. PKOC. VOL. XXXI. A 18 



