BRITISH REPTILES 
stinging capacities, of Snakes that with double tongue 
“may with a mortal touch throw death upon thy 
sovereign’s enemies.” Spenser speaks of “the stings 
of Aspes that kill with smart,” and Dryden again has a 
liking for saying that “a Serpent shoots his sting.” 
Snakes also are still believed to have a power of 
fascinating their prey, and one would hardly credit that, 
as late as the time of John Wesley, we find that eminent 
divine stating that a Swallow seeing a Snake beneath, 
stops his insect-catching, flies over the crafty reptile on 
the ground, and finally sinks until the bird drops into 
the mouth of the expectant host ! 
Shakespeare in ‘‘ King Henry VI” says: ‘‘ What! 
Art thou like the Adder waxen deaf?” In the Psalms 
there is a reference to “‘ the deaf Adder that stoppeth her 
ear,” and although Snakes have no external ears, is there 
any reason to suppose that any of them are deaf ? 
The poor despised Slow Worm has been the target 
for much ridicule and abuse, but three instances must 
suffice. Shakespeare christens it: “The  eyeless 
venom’d worm,” and actually advises, as one of the 
ingredients of the witch’s cauldron, “a Blind Worm’s 
sting.” Herrick philosophises thus :— 
“No will-o’-th’-wispe mis-light thee : 
Nor Snake or Slow-worme bite thee.” 
Lastly, our beloved Scott helps to perpetuate the 
fable as to this creature’s slimy and slow character thus : 
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