Franz Heymann wrote:
:: "Phil L" wrote in message
:: ...
::: Matthew Durkin wrote:
::::: I wouldn't advise trying to catch one. I cornered one in Greece
::::: as a child, and was somewhat horrified to find it dispensing
::::: with its tail (in the grip of my hand). They wriggle quite a
::::: while after the lizard is gone.
:::
::: As a keeper of reptiles, I know a little bit about this...The
::: wriggling of the shodden tail is to fool predators, they will
::: often shed it when being pursued, giving the predator a moving
::: object to attack while they make their escape.
:::
::::: They apparently grow a new tail. Quite amazing.
:::::
::::: I live just north of london. never seen a scorpion, lizard or
::::: snake in the UK. Probably for the better... :O)
:::
::: Parts of Wales have a good pupulation of snakes, I saw one there
::: as a child, about 4 foot long and a sandy beige colour, this is
::: the only wild snake I've ever seen in the UK...they are, like my
::: own snakes, very shy of people and just want to hide all the time.
::
:: The wilder parts of the Penwith peninsula in Cornwall abounds in
:: adders.
::
:: Franz

It's just a pity we can't get them to migrate into the towns and cities,
maybe the ever expanding rat population would be kept under control?