INTRODUCTION. 9
generally will perhaps consider it rather a matter for
congratulation.
If it be a fact that the Sand Lizard occurs in
Northumberland and Durham, it is very remarkable
to find it absent from counties much farther south of
them. True, there have been several reported cases
of its capture in Essex, but in every instance a mis-
take has been proved in the identification. The pro-
bability therefore is that it does not occur here. The
same may be said of the Smooth Snake, which is also
absent from this county.
For Amphibians, we are better off. The British lists
include seven species, of which we have six. One of
these, the Edible Frog, is an introduction, as it probably
is wherever found in the United Kingdom. The other
Amphibian wanting is the Natterjack Toad, which is
found both in Suffolk and Norfolk. There being no
conditions unfavourable to it in Essex, it may possibly
exist, although as yet unobserved.
FISH.
Turning now to the class Pisces, we find that, out
of the 234 distinct species given by Francis Day
(Fishes of Great Britain and Ireland) for these islands,
113 have been already observed in Essex. This list,
compiled as it is chiefly from the observations of a
single naturalist, unassisted save by a few scattered