'lizzie: 471 



First let us briefly review her many wrong names, 'blind- 

 worm/ ' slow-worm,' * deaf-adder,' ' brittle-snake/ and 

 endeavour to account for them. Of her name ' snake ' 

 {Ang2iis), from its external aspect, enough has already been 

 said. The ' brittleness ' shared in common with several of her 

 foreign relatives, known as 'glass snakes,' proceeds from a 

 power of contracting the muscles into rigidity when molested: 

 that is, when, on finding themselves in a helpless condition, 

 slew-worms grasp firmly whatever they can attach themselves 

 to. In fact, this little snake only displays constricting 

 powers as far as it is able ; for it really does constrict the 

 fingers which detain it, with a force as great for its size as its 

 cousin Anaconda uses in killing its prey. Were the giant 

 constrictors to entwine us with proportionate power, they 

 would gain the day. In the case of Anguis fragilis, zve are 

 the masters ; and were we to attempt violently to unwind 

 one from our fingers, it would break ' in halves ' in its 

 resistance, or rather in its redoubled efforts to cling the 

 tighter and so save itself. May it not in this respect, also, 

 claim kinship with its giant rivals, and show their common 

 ancestry.^ On pp. 183 and 187 reference was made to the 

 * blind-worm ' in connection with other * brittle ' snakes, and 

 in the use of their pointed tails. Our native ' blind-worm,' 

 in not having the hard point at the end, has escaped the im- 

 putation of trying to ' sting ' with that imaginary weapon, 

 although it uses its tail with equal and similar force, and for 

 the same purpose. In handling the little reptile, you will 

 feel it pressing the tip of its tail against whatever part comes 

 in contact with it, as a hold, a fulcrum, and motive power. 

 Upon a smooth surface it would be entirely helpless without 



