BRITISH REPTILES 
Slow Worm, and Common Lizard. Superstitions con- 
cerning Snakes are many, and it is only possible to draw 
attention to a few of these. These interesting animals 
are both loathed and feared. Any creature of the nature 
of a Snake is regarded as harmful, or obnoxious, and is 
killed at sight. ‘The harmless Grass Snake, and the still 
more harmless Slow Worm, both suffer the penalty of 
death on this score. Even in Biblical history there is 
evidence to show the disdain, distaste, and distrust 
with which these tenants of earth and water were re- 
garded, for Christ referred in his condemnation of the 
Pharisees in the words: “‘ Ye Serpents, ye generation of 
Vipers.” The Serpent entered into the Biblical story 
of the Garden of Eden as the betrayer of Eve, and 
although the latter did not regard the reptile with aversion, 
in the days of Pharaoh this fearlessness had changed to 
one of terror. A poor London urchin is said to have 
died of fright on seeing a Snake by his bedside, yet in 
olden times, arising out of fear and insufficient knowledge, 
Snakes were objects of much veneration, and extra- 
ordinary powers were believed in regard to them. 
Dryden in his translation of Virgil speaks of a serpent 
which “‘ rolls”’ and “ rides,” and of how ‘“‘ the sacred 
monster shot along the ground.” Longfellow in his 
wonderful epic of ‘‘ Hiawatha ”’ makes “‘ great serpents ”’ 
and “fiery serpents,” “‘ with their blazing crests up- 
lifted,” breathe, if you please, “‘ fiery fogs and vapours.” 
Snakes are almost invariably referred to, or regarded, as 
slimy creatures. This they are not. They are cold- 
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