REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS Staffordshire is not rich either in the number of species of its reptiles, as compared with more southern counties, or in the individual abundance of such forms which do occur within the county boundaries. Thus Staffordshire possesses two lizards the common lizard and the blindworm, and two snakes the harmless grass snake and the viper. Neither the sand lizard (Lacerta agi'/is, Linn.) nor the smooth snake (Coronella austriaca, Laur.) are found in Staffordshire, although both have been reported, on one occasion each, as met with by individuals quite incapable of identifying these species at a glance, and no specimen of either has hitherto been obtained in Staffordshire. Staffordshire can claim one species of frog, one toad and three newts in her list of batrachians. In the neighbouring county of Chester however the second British species of toad is met with the pretty active natterjack toad (Bufo calamita^ Laur.), and from thence many years ago specimens were introduced into Staffordshire by the late Mr. Edwin Brown, and turned out by Sir Oswald Mosley in his grounds at Rolleston. This colony still survived ten years after its introduction, so that it is just possible that descendants may still exist and be claimed as indigenous by some observer ignorant of their history. In a somewhat similar manner I was myself the means of unintentionally introducing the natterjack into Leicestershire, having presented a series of living specimens of various ages to the Leicester Museum, which I had collected in Lancashire. Some of these were turned out in the museum grounds by the curator, Mr. Montagu Browne, F.G.S., F.Z.S., as recorded in his Vertebrate Animals of Leicestershire and Rut/and, p. 182. It is scarcely probable that in this case any would long survive. It may be well to mention perhaps that the natterjack toad may readily be recognized by the yellow line down the middle of the back and by its active movements. It can also withstand heat far better than the common toad. REPTILES LACERTILIA Cannock Chase. In Staffordshire however it never appears in such numbers as it does in i. Common, Scaly, or Viviparous L.zard. the Charnwood Forest district of Leicester- Lacerta vtvifara, Jacqum. shire> where j haye more frequently met with Not uncommon in the wilder, heathy parts it than in any other part of the midlands of the county, especially in the north and on known to me. I 137 18
