British Reptiles and Amphibians 



noon. Provided, however, that these creatures are 

 known to frequent a given locality, a search under 

 stones or other debris during the cooler hours of the 

 day may be undertaken with some success. Yet it 

 must be allowed that Slow-worms are not easily de- 

 tected, as they have the facility of remaining quite 

 motionless in the presence of surprise or danger. 



Some few years ago Slow-worms were reported to 

 be very numerous in a certain locality on the borders 

 of England and Scotland, and the author made it a 

 point to visit this district in view of identifying Anguis 

 fragilis, as scientists name this reptile. For some days 

 our party searched every bank and meadow in vain. 

 We had our quarters in the village inn, and one 

 evening, while in conversation with the landlord, a 

 man, evidently a tradesman, remarked : " If you want 

 Slow-worms, try the parson's meadow." 



Very little more was said, but our party was early 

 astir next morning hunting the rector's grounds for 

 Slow-worms. Our search proved fruitless. As we 

 dined, the man of the preceding evening's conversation 

 passed the window. I knew him at once, and called 

 out that we had failed to get a single Slow-worm about 

 the rector's grounds. From the street he informed me 

 he would bring me a few on his return to the village, 

 and he did so. This worthy brought four alive in 

 a handkerchief to the inn during the afternoon, which 

 he had caught upon the very ground our party had 

 been over some hours before. 



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