eight were seen on one occasion in my garden in Forest Edge. Dr D. Corke
records one at Pole Hill, Chingford in 1955. The Forest Conservation Centre
record one in their grounds in 1971 and one at Paul's Nursey in 1976. Single
slow-worms were seen at the Suntrap Centre in 1975 and 1976.
Common Lizard (Lacerta vivipara (Jacquin)
This lizard seems to be abundant in all the open spaces and plains in the
Forest. Malenoir in 1959 records catching 21 lizards, all males, on March 31.
These were caught on Fairmead, Whitehouse and Rushy Plains, Long Running
and Broadstrood. He mentions its occurrence also on road verges, anti-tank
ditches and open rides in fact anywhere where there is grass, heather or bramble
cover and a sunny area to bask. He reaffirms the widespread records of this
reptile in his further report of 1963. I myself found the animal common in 1953-
1959 and recorded it even from the island in the middle of Robin Hood round-
about. I also recorded large numbers in Woodberry Hollow and Baldwins Pond
areas also on road verges up Earls Path the latter being more open and cut back
at that time. More recently records are available from the Forest Conservation
Centre where one single lizard was recorded in 1971 in the gardens, another on
Whitehouse Plain. In 1973 two adults near the Centre at High Beach, four
young later in the year and four young seen at Sunshine Plain. One adult and
two young at the Centre in 1974 and 3 adults there in 1975 also one adult at
Whitehouse Plain in 1976. Mr K. Hoy also records odd specimens at the
Suntrap during recent years.
Grass or Ringed Snake (Natrix natrix (Linnaeus))
Stubbs (1920) records common sightings of 10 or 12 grass snakes at Birch
Hall lake, Theydon Bois, a number unusual by today's standards. Malenoir in
his reports indicates seasonal migration, to the ponds in spring and summer to
feed on amphibian life, and back to the drier plains in autumn where small
mammals and some toads are known to be eaten. He records snakes at Earls
Path, Loughton one seen in 1957 in dense woodland. Also at Cuckoo Pits during
1955-1958, one in Monk Wood 1956, and from Bell Common pond in 1953,
Baldwins pond three in 1958, Goldings and Wake Valley ponds in the same
period. Malenoir also records seeing "a dozen or more" in a post-hibernation
cluster at Broadstrood in April 1960 and notes its abundance on Wake Valley
and Rushey Plains prior to the fires of 1959. Occasional specimens were seen at
the Suntrap Field Centre during 1975-1976 and from the Conservation Centre
records show of its occurrence during recent years. They refer to one pair on
Clayride and one adult at the Centre in 1971. One at Earls Path pond in 1973
also one at the Centre. Another at the Centre in 1976, one at Earls Path pond
and one at Paul's Nursery.
29