Page:VCH Rutland 1.djvu/90

 REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS The list of reptiles and batrachians to be found in Rutland is an extremely meagre one. No doubt more careful and continuous observa- tion would add one or two names to the list, but in any case herpetology is not a science that would find any great scope in this county. The only reptile that can be called really common is the grass-snake, and the only two batrachians in any sense numerous are the frog and the newt. REPTILES OPHIDIA 1. Grass-Snake. Tropldonotus natrtx, Linn. Common, especially at Ridlington, where one was killed, 3 feet long, with twenty eggs in her. Another was killed in Exton Park in 1 90 1 which measured 3 feet 8 inches in length, and was ^^ inches in girth. Speci- mens have been taken at Caldecote and Wardley, and no doubt the grass-snake is distributed throughout the county. The Rev. B. N. Cherry of Clipsham informs me that it is a rooted idea among the keepers in that neighbourhood that no snakes are found between the Nen and the Welland, though common to the south of the former river and to the north of the latter. 2. Viper or Adder. Vipera berus, Linn. Not common in the southern part of the county. At Ketton it used to be quite numerous, much more so, says Mr. E. St. G. Betts, than the grass-snake. Latterly it has become much scarcer. Near Uppingham it has only been recorded occasionally. LACERTILIA 3. Common Lizard. Lacerta vivipara (Jacq.) Seldom seen near Uppingham. Since 1889 only three cases of its appearance have been recorded. At Ketton it is commoner and probably elsewhere in the county. The s&nA-x2ird[Lacerta agUis) has not been recorded but probably occurs. 4. Blind-worm. Anguis fragilis, Linn. Sparingly distributed. BATRACHIANS ECAUDATA 1 . Common Frog. Rana temporar'ia, Linn. Common, but not very numerous in any one place. 2. Toad. Bufo vulgaris, Laur. Sparingly distributed throughout the county, but Mr. E. H. V. Hodge reports great num- bers breeding in the Oakham Canal. CAUDATA 3. Great Crested Newt. Molge cristata, Laur. Fairly common in all the pools and ponds. 4. Common Newt. Molge vulgaris^ Linn. Very common everywhere. There is no record of M. palmata, which has perhaps been confused with the prevalent species. 54