48o SNAKES. 



still bears an evil character in some rural districts, and in 

 Wales more particularly. 



A few weeks ago, a Welsh lady, hearing me speak of my 

 tame slow-worms, asked if I were not afraid to handle 

 them. 



* Wliy ?' one naturally asked. 



* Because they are so poisonous,' she replied. 



I explained that this erroneous idea had probably 

 originated in the little creature being sometimes called an 

 * adder,' and so forth. 



My friend did not take the explanation kindly, but rather 

 resented the possibility of her being mistaken. ' They are 

 so very common in Wales,' she said, ' and I am sure they 

 are venomous there.' 



Another lady of the company, subsequently speaking of 

 this, remarked, ' I should certainly be inclined to believe 

 what Miss F. says about them (the slow-worms), because she 

 lives so much in the country and is such an observer.' 



This speaker was a lady of really superior intellectual 

 attainments ; but she had never attempted to overcome a 

 strong prejudice against anything in the shape of a snake. 

 She would not permit herself to be convinced that any of them 

 were either harmless, clean, or beautiful ; but, like the monks 

 who would not look through Galileo's telescope, for fear of 

 seeing what it was heresy to believe, my friend preferred to 

 hug her prejudices ! 



One little bit more of gossip in taking leave of Lizzie. 

 The party were young gentlemen, all of them of studious 

 and intellectual tastes and good position. ' How could I 

 endure to touch those horrible slimy snakes ? ' one of them 



