REPTILES. 



The i:)overty of the British Islands in this class is not 

 likely to cause profound regret to any one who has lived 

 Scarcity of i^i tropical parts. Although the fear of snakes 

 British is much exaggerated in the Colonies, it is 

 reptiles. nevertheless a relief to be able to ramble in 

 the New Forest without the hindrance of heavy top-boots 

 or leggings ; and it is pleasant to contrast the six British 

 reptiles, only one of which can ever be mischievous, with 

 the hundred snakes, two-thirds of them poisonous, and 

 the two hundred lizards of the Australian continent. In 

 addition to its slight power for evil, the adder of our 

 woodlands is so easily distinguished from the harmless 

 species that there is no excuse for an accident, nor is it 

 necessary to slay every snake encountered on the chance 

 of its being dangerous. Unfortunately, however, the same 

 policy prevails both north and south of the Line : the 

 snake is killed first, identified afterwards. In the Colonies, 

 where the differences are as often as not internal, and 

 where a fatal bite might be the result of a moment's delay, 

 there is much to commend this destructive policy ; but in 

 this country the habit of persecuting these harmless and 

 beautiful creatures should be condemned, though few 

 indeed who cry so loudly against the slaughter of their 

 cousins, the birds, would offer the slightest objection to 

 the murder of ringed snakes. 



It is not difficult to define the class of reptiles, par- 

 ticularly for the present purpose, where it is 

 not necessary to include alligators and tor- 

 toises. Suffice it to say that the animals composing this 



