REPTILE AND AMPHIBIAN SURVEY OF EPPING FOREST 143
plains. At these times it is possible to collect hundreds in an hour
or so, especially on Sunshine, Wake Valley and Rushey Plains
and round the two Goldings and Baldwins Hill ponds. The best
time for this collecting is usually after a shower of rain. There
seems to be a wide variation in size amongst these young Toads.
This, I feel, may be a result of food supply, some Toads having
come via a route that provided them with a greater selection and
quantity of food than others, hence when both arrive at their
destination one is nearly twice the size of the other.
Toads can often be found hibernating under logs and the open
roots of large trees, and if such places are searched during October
and November many will be found.
The Toad is also the favourite food of the Forest Grass Snakes
and is taken in preference to any other food contrary to the often
expressed opinion that it will not eat Toads. This may be because
it is the most common food available, but it may be an acquired
taste.
Natterjack Toad (Bufo calamita)
Not as yet recorded.
Common Frog (Rana temporaria)
This amphibian continues to be rather scarce in the Forest,
mainly due to its unfortunate habit of spawning on the edges of
ponds, about six inches from the bank and in easy reach of
children or anyone collecting spawn. Also during 1959-1961 the
Frogs were in the ponds and spawning at the end of February and
early March, and repeated cold spells killed most of the spawn
before it had time to develop, and only the late spawn hatched.
However, in August 1961, young Frogs were discovered on
Baldwins Hill in greater numbers than is usual.
Edible Frog (Rana esculenta)
Recorded at ponds in the Whipps Cross and Snaresbrook area
from 1948 onwards, no record since 1959.
Marsh Frog (Rana ridibunda)
No definite records.
Slow-worm (Anguis fragilis)
I think it is fair to say that this lizard is quite common in the
Forest, but we seldom see it because of its ability to remain in
the open, quite still, coiled in and out of the soft grasses that it
loves, or lying loosely on a bed of dried leaves or bracken when
only the sun glinting off its coppery skin will give it away.
This reptile has another favourite habit of basking on the top
of molehills lying slightly interwoven among the soft herbage that
this particular site usually provides.
It has been recorded on most of the plains already
mentioned, being particularly numerous on Baldwins Hill and