114 THE VIVARIUM. 
handling when it is first caught, for, when frightened, it stiffens 
itself so that in its rigidity it may be fairly likened to a piece of 
wire, and if, in that state, it is roughly treated, it is almost certain 
to “ break in halves.” It will sometimes be noticed that when a 
Slow-worm is first captured, it has already lost a portion of its 
tail. Occasionally a sudden fright is sufficient to make this Lizard 
part with its tail, and while he who wa: the origin of the fear is 
looking at the wriggling discarded member, the Reptile escapes. 
I have seen fowls and pheasants attack it, and no doubt the birds 
often content themselves with the tail, while the body hurries off 
into a place of safety. The lost tail is reproduced very slowly. 
Many illustrations of Slow-worms which one sees are apparently 
taken from specimens which have formerly lost the extremity of 
their tail, and have commenced the work of reproduction. The 
uninjured tail tapers off gradually until the latter portion of it is 
far slenderer than any other part of the animal’s body. Fig. 43 
represents a perfect Slow-worm. <A very fine specimen of a 
male Slow-worm which I have owned for a long time has a 
beautiful tapering tail, 10in. long, while the body of the animal 
is 8in. in length. 
The Slow-worm like the Snake is almost helpless when placed 
upon a smooth surface, such as a piece of glass or polished marble. 
The former is a very clever climber, considering that he is a leg- 
less Lizard. It can get, without difficulty, cut of an uncovered 
box which is only lin. or 2in. less deep than the creature’s total 
length. . 
The Slow-worm has made itself famous by being the first to 
reveal to science the mysterious pineal, or median, eye, which has 
already been referred to in the description of the Twatera. Sir 
John Lubbock, in his “‘ The Senses of Animals,” says “‘ De Graaf 
has the merit of discovering that in the Slow-worm the pineal 
gland is actually modified into a structure resembling an inverte- 
brate eye.” 
The Slow-worm soon becomes exceedingly tame, and will live, 
if properly treated, for a great number of years in confinement. 
For example, a writer in “ Science Gossip” for April, 1878, page 
94, speaking of the longevity of this Reptile, says: “A very 
fine specimen was captured by me, near Beacontree Heath, in the 
