44, ANGUIDA. 
structure, and the relations which it indicates, form an un- 
answerable argument of the fallacy of the position, that 
external characters are in all cases sufficient to indicate 
affinities; and shew of how much importance, or rather 
how essential, is the anatomical investigation of internal 
structure, to enable us to arrive at the true relations of 
individual species or of groups. 
The Blind-worm, or Slow-worm, by which names this 
species is known indifferently in this country, is found in 
almost every part of Europe, excepting the extreme north, 
and is capable of enduring a much colder climate than 
most other reptiles even of our own country. It is found 
in Russia, in Poland, in Denmark, Sweden, and Scotland, 
as well as throughout the whole of the more temperate 
parts of Europe, and as far south as the South of France, 
and Italy; but it has not, I believe, been seen in any part 
of Africa. It makes its appearance also at an earlier sea- 
son than any other of our scaled reptiles. It retires in the 
autumn under masses of decayed wood or leaves, or into 
soft dry soil where it is covered with heath or brush- 
wood, and penetrates to a considerable depth in such 
situations by means of its smooth rounded muzzle, and 
even polished body. 
Its habits are extremely gentle and inoffensive. Even 
when handled roughly, it rarely attempts to bite; and 
when it is irritated so as to induce it to seize upon the 
finger, the teeth are so small as scarcely to make an im- 
pression. Of course the opinion that it is venomous is a 
mere vulgar error. There are no poison-fangs in the jaw, 
either of this or of any other species of the group to which 
it belongs. It is so timid, that on being laid hold of or 
pursued, it contracts itself so forcibly as to become per- 
fectly stiff; and it is then so fragile as to be easily broken 
