182 BRITISH LIZARDS 



" The word ' Ask ' or ' Asker ' is a universal name 

 applied to all newts and lizards in the three counties 

 by the country-folk, by whom all creatures of the 

 kind are considered venomous." — E. Standen and 

 J. K. Hardy, Zoological Dept., Manchester Museum, 

 Owens College. 



X. HuMBER Province. 



YORKSHIRE. 



" In the Scarborough district both the viviparous 

 lizard and the slow-worm are found, the former being 

 the more common. This species is generally distri- 

 buted in all suitable localities, and in some, e.g. upon 

 the Wykeham High Moor, is extremely abundant. 

 Its local name is ' Ask.' The local name for the 

 blind-worm is ' Slier-worm,' pronounced as spelt. 

 Both are considered venomous by the country-folk ; 

 the latter species particularly is held in greater dread 

 than the adder. The viviparous lizard, probably on 

 account of its small size and active habit, is holding 

 its own, but the slow-worm is becoming less abundant 

 every year. In some districts, where fifteen years ago 

 it was plentiful, it is now quite exterminated. I have 

 seen a young slow-worm disgorge a lob-worm only one 

 inch less in length than itself, an apparently quite 

 impossible morsel." — W. J. Clarke, Scarborough. 



YORKS. 



" The viviparous lizard is more common than the 



