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The last of the British serpents (so called) is the Blindworm or Slowworm 

 (Anguis Fragilu). Although the term Anguis is still retained, the Blindworm 

 is now considered to belong to the gi-eat order Lacertinid^, that is the 

 Saurian or Lizard tribe ; and the term Fi-agUis has been given to it from the 

 known facility with which it is divided or broken iuto two, and this dividing 

 takes place, as vrith other lizards, exactly at the point or joint where the tail 

 joias on to the body of the animal ; and it will be found on examination that 

 the tail-half of bUndworms is of somewhat smaller circumference than the body 

 of the animal. I have heard it asserted that the Blindworm when irritated wiU 

 divide itself at this juncture. I have^never observed this, although they 

 abounded on the slope between the house and the river at Eaton Bishop, where 

 I was bom and bred, and where I have very often irritated them and given 

 them reason to divide if they would do so. I have frequently witnessed the 

 facility with which a very slight blow wiU divide them, and then watched the 

 two ends wriggling off in opposite directions — the body always to get under 

 the grass and conceal itself, whilst the separated tail retains its vitality and will 

 wriggle about vigorously for some time. The tail of course dies, but a new 

 tail will grow from the body in course of time, as is the case with lizards. 



Another reason which has induced naturalists to class Blindworms with 

 the Saurian or Lizard tribe is the somewhat remai-kable fact of an xmdeveloped 

 foi-mation of legs, found xipon dissection in the front part of the body. The 

 connecting Unk between the Blindworm and true Lizards is found in the little 

 animal common in some parts of France and Italy called the Seps (Seps 

 tridactylus) which has legs so small and feeble as to be of not much more use 

 in assisting the creatm-e's movements than the only partially developed legs of 

 the Blindworm are. 



Another mark of distinction between the Blindworm and the serpent 

 tiibe is, that there is by no means that comparatively large head and fine neck 

 which are universal with the serpent family. It may be observed also, that 

 Blindworms (and Vipers also) do not lay eggs like the Grass-snake, but bring 

 forth living young ones. Eels, which are supposed to have a viparous nature, 

 do the same, and do not spawn, as others of the fish tribe do. 



I remember, years ago at Eaton, seeing a Blindworm opened, and within it 

 there was quite a ball of young ones, all rolled up together ; and this circum- 

 stance of their lying in a roll together, may have given rise to the idea asserted 

 by some naturalists, that Vipers do lay eggs the same as other serpents, only 

 that they are hatched within the animal's stomach immediately previous to the 

 birth of the young ones. 



I wiU only obsei-ve further that the name " Blindworm " is a misnomer,, 

 as they have unmistakeable eyes, and see quickly enough with them too. The 

 term Slow-worm is more appropriate, as they are somewhat sluggish in their 

 movements. Slugs form their chief food, though they feed also, I believe, upoa 

 the common earth-worm, and (like Snakes and Vipers) upon some insects. 



