30 BRITISH LIZARDS 



mention any animal which is so smooth to the touch, 

 and which is at the same time free from any suspicion 

 of slime. The skin is, of course, quite dry. Its 

 metallic lustre is well known, giving the appearance 

 of polished copper or silver, according to the colour 

 variation. A few moments of watching will show 

 the observer the movable eyelids and the protrusible 

 notched tongue, black in colour. The motion of the 

 tongue is much more deliberate than in the case of 

 the snakes, not a rapid quivering, but a somewhat 

 slow protrusion and withdrawal. After swallowing a 

 slug^it is amusing to see the slow- worm lick its jaws 

 for a minute or two with the tongue, at the same 

 time usually giving some huge yawns and gapes. 



As regards the size that the slow-worm attains, 

 very various statements have been made. It is not 

 at all uncommon to find a specimen 15 or 16 inches 

 long, and I once captured a beautiful bright copper- 

 coloured male in a wood in Dorset which measured 

 17 J inches. This is the largest that I have personally 

 taken, but they have been reported up to 18 inches. 

 The specimen just mentioned did not grow any longer 

 during the next year and a half that he inhabited my 

 vivarium. 



There are no very prominent markings on this 

 species, but a close inspection will reveal the existence 

 of a thin, dark line along the side of the body, some- 

 what similar in appearance to the lateral line in fishes. 

 A similar dark line may be seen running down the 



