THE REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS OF ESSEX, 1960-1961 191
On the 28th May we met Mr. M. Parker at Mill Green who
kindly introduced us to this district, and here we recorded five
Adders, three males, an unusual brick coloured female and one
dead specimen. All these records were made with the help of the
keen eyes of J. Davison and R. Thorpe.
I have made no mention of those that got away or those whose
presence we suspected by seeing or hearing movement, neither
was the weather on the days concerned perfect for reptiles, but it
can be seen that in these very small areas covered, this snake is
very common. It would therefore seem that the tidal marshes
and sea walls of Essex are heavily populated with Adders. It is
interesting that many of these areas are inundated by flood waters
each year; apparently this does not affect these reptiles during
their hibernation.
From the evidence so far produced the main bulk of their food
appears to be voles and mice, which are frequently disgorged on
capture.
Although the Grass or Ringed Snake (Natrix natrix) is sup-
posed to be very scarce north of Epping (Fitter, 1949) we have
not found this to be so, as the following records will show.
In June 1959 over a dozen were seen in ditches at Stanford
Rivers. A post-hibernation cluster was seen by D. Scott at Mann
Wood, near Colchester, in April 1953 and we also have records
from Gt. Canfield, Writtle, Peldon near Colchester and Dunmow.
On 8th June 1963 five Grass Snakes were taken along 100 yards
of hedge on Grimwades Farm at Rochford. At Burnham-on-
Crouch in March 1959 four Grass Snakes were found on a golf
course and in April of the same year two were found mating in a
shallow hollow.
Three visits were also made to Hatfield Forest and on each
occasion Grass Snakes were taken and seen around the lake and
in the adjoining woodlands, this being the only snake recorded
in the area.
In April 1961 G. Hull recorded and measured three specimens
from Easton Lodge, Dunmow, and also saw some others. Grass
Snakes are reported by R. Knowles as very common in the
woodlands and hedgerows at Billericay. I have recorded them in
quantity from the marshes at Hadleigh Castle along to Benfleet
in 1938 and they were still present in 1960-61, although not so
numerous.
From the above records it will be seen that the Grass Snake is
also common in Essex, but there are still a great many areas from
which we have no records at all.
The commonest reptile in the county apart from the Viviparous
Lizard (Lacerta vivipara) is undoubtedly the Slow-worm (Anguis
fragilis). It appears in great numbers along most Essex rural
roadsides and is found in quantity in open woodland, hedgerows
and gardens, besides being common on sea walls, marshes and
railway embankments on the eastern side of the county. It is
often found under pieces of discarded tin, tarpaulin, or old pieces