THE AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES
by DAVID SCOTT
Court Hill, Little Leighs, Dunmow, Essex.
INTRODUCTION
In spite of greater pressures on the Forest in the present time five species of
Amphibian and four of the Reptilia can still be found. Fortunately public
opinion has changed towards conservation and away from old wives tales and
killing of any animal that was not understood. I can well recall boyhood (early
1950's) memories of gangs of boys armed with catapults shooting up breeding
colonies of frogs and toads. On another occasion I recall, when handling a toad
rescued from a road drain, being told to "put it down because it is poisonous"
by a passing lady who became very agitated seeing a young child holding such
an animal.
Records of sightings are sporadic in coming in, many in some years, few in
others but the overall picture indicates that this group of animals is holding its
own in the Forest and it is hoped that this will be the case for all time.
AMPHIBIANS
Crested or Warty Newt (Triturus cristatus (Laurenti))
This is the largest of the three British species, all of which occur in Epping
Forest. It has been my experience that this newt is found in the darker more
weedy ponds where it is not easily seen and may go unrecorded for some time.
However dredging with a strong net will often bring results and they may also be
found in half submerged tin cans and motor tyres; the latter being a favourite
place for courtship being dark but often warmed by the sun's rays. In Epping
Forest this newt has never been as plentiful as the common and palmate newts.
There are few records of it early in the century but it is mentioned by Stubbs
(1920) and Fitter (1949) with no details. Malenoir (1959) records three taken in
the crater on Fairmead Bottom in 1958. He later lists records from other areas,
four from the pond on Woodford Golf Course in 1959 and in 1960 and 1961
adult specimens from the Fairmead Bottom pond and craters and the pond in
the Lower Forest. Also some weak specimens from a polluted pond on Debden
housing estate. Dr D. Corke has recorded the crested newt from a pond in
Hawkswood House Grounds, Chingford but these were seen each year up to
1973 with no records since. I have seen the newt in the Goldings Hill ponds in
1950 and studied them in the two ponds in the north east corner of Lords
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