REPTILE AND AMPHIBIAN SURVEY OF EPPING FOREST 145
think this is probably the cause of records of Sand Lizards in the
Forest.
Melanistic specimens do occur, but as yet we have no actual
record from the Forest.
Sand Lizard (Lacerta agilis)
No definite record.
Grass or Ringed Snake (Natrix natrix)
This reptile we find is still reasonably abundant on all the open
spaces in the Forest, inhabiting areas adjacent to ponds, along the
major paths, rides and various plains.
This snake is a great wanderer, unlike the Adder, and therefore
one is unable to return periodically and be sure of observing the
same specimen. Also the Grass Snake is a wary animal and
unless the approach is soft and silent it is quickly away, and all
one will see is the waving of the grass tops to mark its passage or
hear a sibilant rustle as it disappears. Most Grass Snakes are seen
and taken when they are on the move and it is very unusual to
approach and see one basking without being observed. Speed is
essential for capturing them.
The greatest number of Grass Snakes seen at one time was
during April 1960 when a post-hibernation cluster of a dozen or
more were seen mating and basking on Broadstrood, and at our
approach all retreated into a blackberry bush which we are in-
clined to believe was their hibernaeulum. Prominent among them
was a large female of a bluey-grey colour and as she made off it
was seen that the male, who at the time was mating with her,
was being dragged alongside. A close watch was kept on the bush
and although great activity was seen deep in the brambles, none
of the snakes emerged again, possibly due to a deterioration in
the weather.
Prior to the fires of 1959 this snake was extremely common on
Wake Valley and Rushey Plain, but in the years since it appears
to be rather scarce, although it has appeared on Sunshine
Plain where it was previously unrecorded.
The most unusual specimen taken was a large female over 44
inches long, caught near the Wake Arms, she was a very dull olive
green and had no yellow collar, nor was the iris of the eye visible.
Most of the Grass Snakes caught in the Forest are not so long as
this, the males averaging 30 inches and the females 36 inches, the
largest taken being the 44-inch female mentioned. We seldom see
any snakes smaller than 18 inches, probably due to the fact that
they remain under cover for the first two years of their lives; after
this age they will have outgrown the size of the common earth-
worm for which they may be taken by birds, frogs, toads and some
mammals.
There is considerable variation in colour and pattern in the
Grass Snake, the background colour ranging from a pale yellowy-
green through stages of dull olive to an almost blackish-green, and