76 OCCASIONAL PAPERS. 



IV. ABOUT THE SLOW-WOEM. 

 Beprinted from the Naturalises Circular for June, 1868 



I remember one of my companions telling me how 

 during a ramble after wild-flowers a slow-worm had 

 sprung at him from the bank, and only just missed 

 fixing itself on his face. As he firmly believed the 

 creature to be of a deadly poisonous nature, he 

 regarded this as a wonderful escape. Neither of us 

 knew much of natural history then, and I accord- 

 ingly congratulated him on the fact that he was still 

 alive ; indeed, to tell the truth I felt rather envious, 

 and wished that I could relate such a marvellous 

 escape. But this was many many years ago, and 

 the slow-worm has since then been one of my 

 numerous pets. A box of these reptiles is certainly 

 a novelty to most people, for though they may have 

 come across one or two in their occasional rambles, 

 it was only to jump away from them, or to strike at 

 them with a stick ; whereas before a box with a 

 glass front they can gratify their curiosity, and at 

 the same time feel perfectly safe. As you dilate on 

 the curious traits of your little proteges to an 

 admiring audience, they listen to you with about the 

 same feelings as those experienced by the crowd 

 before a cage of tigers while Mattoko the great tiger- 

 man is giving a lecture on his captives. Will they 

 test the creature's harmlessuess by taking one into 



