Publication Review
A new publication from Scottish Natural Heritage is now available and it is in the much acclaimed ‘Naturally Scottish’ series entitled ‘Amphibians and Reptiles’. Other booklets in the series include sea eagles, bumblebees, corncrakes and burnet moths.
The authors of the latest booklet are John Buckley (The Herpetological Conservation Trust) and Mairi Cole (Scottish Natural Heritage). The very readable text is packed with useful information and the hands on approach comes through in every section. For example if you find clumps of frogs spawn that are left ‘high and dry’ then ‘moving them gently to a nearby water body would be much appreciated – not least by the frogs themselves!’.
Scotland has a limited number of amphibians and reptiles, for example the adder is the only true snake found in Scotland. This should not be an excuse to introduce them and this is mentioned in the text ironically on the page following the account of sand lizards being introduced in 1971 to an Inner Hebridean Island where they have survived and breed. No doubt this was, and is being, well studied and documented, which is more than can be said for the frogs on the Uists that are now common despite being non native.
With studies in mind it is worth pointing out that our knowledge of amphibians and reptiles in the Highlands and Islands is still very poor so there is plenty of scope for local recording. Records can be sent to the Highland Biological Recording Group, at Inverness Museum. After the introduction there are sections on Amphibians where frogs and toads are covered and then Reptiles which includes snakes, lizards and other species.
Then more general subjects are covered such as threats, conservation – how you can help, legal protection, the Biodiversity Action Plan and finally finding out more about amphibians and reptiles. The section on how you can help was particularly well written and down to earth with a plea for restoring more ponds which we in the Highlands and Islands tend to forget as there are just so many water bodies.
Toad casualties on the roads are also mentioned with a plea to get out and help them cross the road safely. I particularly liked the section on Scottish names especially the name for toads in Orkney called ‘huppous’ and they were believed to sit on wheatear’s eggs to hatch them!
The excellent text is complemented by a superb series of photographs especially the front cover of toad, frog and lizard. The toad looks as if it has just passed through the portals ‘Toad of Toad Hall’. The booklet can be purchased for £4.95, including p&p, from SNH, Battleby, Redgorton, Perth, PH1 3EW (tel: 01738 458530) ISBN 1 85397 401 3
Ray Collier