OBSERVATIONS ON INSECTS, &C. 



from what has been said, that snakes crawl out of the 

 mouth of their own sloughs, and quit the tail part 

 last, just as eels are skinned by a cook-maid. While 

 the scales of the eyes are growing loose, and a new 

 skin is forming, the creature, in appearance, must 

 be blind, and feel itself in an awkward, uneasy 

 situation. WHITE. 



I have seen many sloughs, or skins of snakes, entire, 

 after they have cast them off ; and, once in particular, 

 I remember to have found one of these sloughs so 

 intricately interwoven amongst some brakes, that it 

 was with difficulty removed without being broken : 

 this undoubtedly was done by the creature to assist 

 in getting rid of its encumbrance. 



I have great reason to suppose that the eft, or 

 common lizard, also casts its skin, or slough, but 

 not entire like the snake ; for, on the 30th of March, 

 1777, I saw one with something ragged hanging to 

 it, which appeared to be part of its old skin. 



MARKWICK. 



