"Tumbleweed" wrote in
:

Subject: Magic Lizards
From: "Tumbleweed"
Newsgroups: uk.rec.gardening
Reply-To: "Tumbleweed"

"Warwick Michael Dumas" wrote in message
om...
Guess what, yes, LIZARDS. At least 2 of the fellers. Distinctly
lizardly in form, but only 2.5 to 3 inches long. Grey. Didn't do
much. I think I got them from underground, suddenly there they were
on the bit of earth I dug. One of them may have got hurt but he
didn't seem to say anything so I don't know.

Almost certainly newts unless you live in the New Forest. And cats
will eat anything, mainly so it gives them the ability to go and shit
in my garden afterwards, so put them back somewhere safe.

Why New Forest? Aren't lizards all over the UK?

Have found lizards in Devon several times before now, including a couple
that turned up on the patio at this time of the year to bask in late
sunshine and got caught by a cold evening. I stuck them in a vivarium I
happened to have by me, and they came bouncing back to life, so I let 'em
go on the bank next day.

If the beasties = dry to the touch and sort of minutely scaly, then yes,
lizards, and probably were roosting in a crack under a dry stone or
something. Cats will play with them fatally, though probably not actually
eat them.

If you go digging in the heap at this time of year they may not have the
energy to move out of the way and you might chop them up by accident. Leave
it till a bright day though, and they will be gone so fast you won't see
them.

If beasties = slimy or soft dampish skin, with broad tails then newts, and
again holed up in a damp hole for the winter. Newts are usually a bit
slow, though again you'll be safer digging in the spring.

Victoria