The Lore and Mythology of Reptiles and Amphibians: It's Not Shakespeare's Fault!

摘要

Shakespeare may have influenced some of the title but we can’t solely blame him for the attitudes towards reptiles and amphibians. In Eye of Newt, Marty Crump takes the reader on an intriguing cultural journey to explore the myth (in the traditional sense of stories that attempt to explain reality), folktale, and folk belief regarding the often-maligned, and certainly misunderstood, reptiles and amphibians. Reptiles and amphibians are under-rated yet fascinating groups, but what shapes our responses to snakes, frogs, lizards, and their ilk? Eye of Newt stimulates questions such as: why do we so often characterise snakes as evil or vigilant, frogs as good, and lizards as cunning; what cultural links shape the characteristic identity of a group or species; and, more importantly, what do these characteristics really mean for a species – will it be persecuted or protected? Certainly I have been acutely aware of a bias, mostly taking the form of disdain, in my many years as a Curator of Lower Vertebrates and Invertebrates. Even the job title marks the historical, Linnaean attitude towards this fascinating group. Crump leaves us in no doubt how much reptile and amphibian folklore permeates the public consciousness. Eye of Newt is a welcome insight into the psyche that filters our collective thoughts and reactions towards these two important taxa.