REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS and the loud croak, consisting of a single roll- ing note. It prefers sandy localities, and breeds in May and June, rarely as early as end of April. Colonies of natterjacks fre- quent ponds for the purpose of breeding, but are rarely met with in the water before dusk, when they indulge in choruses, heard a mile away or more, often called ' brass bands ' by the villagers in west Surrey. These colonies are very local, and appear to shift their quar- ters without apparent reason. They have long been known from Cobham, Woking, and Wisley Heath ; and I have ascertained their presence at Ripley, and between that village and Byfleet. I have also been in- formed of their occurrence at Horsell and Worplesdon, north of the downs, and on Blackheath, south of the downs ; and Mr. Bryan Hook has found them abounding near Farnham, where they are called 'jar-bob.' They used to be found many years ago at Deptford, in the immediate vicinity of Lon- don. I have never come across them in any part of east Surrey. CAUDATA 4. Crested Newt. Molge cristata, Laur. 5. Common Newt. Molge vu/garis, Linn. 6. Palmated Newt. Molge palmata, Schneid. This small newt, which may always be easily distinguished from the common species, in both sexes and at all seasons, by the absence of pigment on the throat, which is flesh-coloured, is very local in this county, and has only been recorded from Tooting and Woking. It is found near Haslemere. 201
