42 ANGUIDE. 



The structure of the common Slow-worm, then, necessa- 

 rily removes it from the Snakes, to which, indeed, it bears 

 a less close affinity than to some of the Saurians. This 

 structure, and the relations which it indicates, form an un- 

 answerable argument of the fallacy of the position, that ex- 

 ternal characters are in all cases sufficient to indicate affini- 

 ties ; and show 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 spe- 

 cies 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 Rus- 

 sia, 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 season 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 brushwood, 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 attemps 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 impression. 

 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 con- 

 tracts itself so forcibly as to become perfectly stiff; and it is 



