Clare Island Survey — Reptilia and Amphibia. 18 3 



As regards the problem which particularly concerns us here, namely, the 

 manner in which the Lizard reached Clare Island, there are only two possible 

 explanations. It may have been transported accidentally either by man or 

 by means of a floating raft of turf, &c, or it may have colonized the island in 

 the normal manner by slow progression on land at a time when Clare Island 

 was still joined to the mainland. 



Accidental dispersal through human intervention in this case seems very 

 improbable, because, even if the extremely unlikely event should have 

 happened once that a Lizard had secreted itself among household goods, and 

 had thus been conveyed to the shore, it would probably have made its escape 

 when the goods were being transferred to the boat. Accidental dispersal by 

 wind is out of the question. Although the Lizard is said to be a good 

 swimmer, taking readily to water, it is inconceivable that it should be able to 

 swim across the channel of three miles which separates Clare Island from the 

 mainland. 



If the Lizard had reached the island by means of accidental causes, it 

 must have done so with the aid of a raft. Eafts of turf and sods might be a 

 possible means of conveyance. Yet, when we consider the problem in that 

 light, we realize how such a floating island soaked in brine would be buffeted 

 about and covered with salt spray long before being finally cast adrift, and 

 ultimately conveyed by the receding tide to some cross-current flowing 

 towards the island, where the difficulty of landing would have to be gone 

 through. Moreover, a single Lizard thus transported would not populate the 

 island unless it had been a gravid female. 



Thus, although theoretically the accidental dispersal of a Lizard to Clare 

 Island is not impossible, it is so extremely improbable that a former land- 

 connexion is almost a necessity. We may even consider the presence of the 

 Lizard on Clare Island as distinctly a point in favour of the theory that the 

 fauna of the island owes its existence principally to the presence of a former 

 land-connexion with the mainland. 



AMPHIBIA. 



Thkee different kinds of Amphibians are known to inhabit Ireland, namely, a 

 Newt, a Toad, and a Frog. The Toad {Rufo calamita) has a very restricted 

 range in the extreme south-west of Ireland. Only the two other species have 

 a wide distribution, the Frog [Rana temporaria) occurring plentifully on 

 Achill Island. Mr. Stelfox informs me that, when he visited Slievemore on 

 Achill in August, he met with thousands of young frogs in a little lake at a 

 height of 850 feet above sea-level. I merely mention this fact because it has 



