482 SNAKES. 



In vain was she tempted with milk, but water appeared 

 to be almost more necessary than food ; at least, after being 

 deprived of both, she took that first and eagerly. 



So much has been said of the burrowing habits of the 

 slow-worms, that I must mention a remarkable exception. 

 Never did I see mine ascend, except when attempting to 

 escape ; nor, when placed among the plants on a flow^er- 

 stand, did they ever raise their head, but would work 

 their way downwards, clinging and holding on by their 

 tail till they reached the floor. Always dozvn was their 

 instinct, even down the stairs on several occasions ; never 

 up. But since the completion of this chapter, some slow- 

 worms have been deposited at the Zoological Gardens 

 that evince a climbing tendency ; and this strikes me as 

 being so novel a feat that I add a line. The little 

 creatures — one of which is of a pale flesh-colour, almost 

 white — live in a cage with some tree frogs, behind the door 

 on entering the Reptilium. Here they are, May 1882, often 

 seen lodged in the branches of the shrub, and reposing there 

 at ease, as if in quiet enjoyment. The 'white' one I first 

 observed in the tree, and subsequently others. So frequently 

 may they be seen reposing in this way among the leaves, 

 that to climb seems to have become a confirmed habit or 

 taste; and in concluding the history oi Anguis fragilis, I 

 record this singular diversity of habit as one other strong 

 feature in common with the giant Anaconda. 



