200 THE TRIBES ON MY FRONTIER. 



positions. In these respects they have nothing in common 

 with the other reptiles which are their relations, the low- 

 minded lizards, the base frog, and the Boeotian tortoise. 

 Some kinds, at any rate, show much motherly affection, 

 guarding their eggs v/ith great care, and when the young 

 are hatched they go about with them as a hen does with 

 her chickens. When danger is near, if there is no other 

 convenient hole at hand, the little ones will run down their 

 mother's throat. 



When the complexion of a snake suffers from exposure, 

 freckles, or anything of that sort, it enjoys the advantage 

 of being able to peel itself, and come out in a new skin. 

 The peel is generally left fluttering, like a streamer of 

 white satin, on some bush, and the little birds carry it off 

 to line their nests. 



The scorpion is entitled to the second place in the 

 Hypodermatikosyringophoroi, and it, too, has had its cha- 

 racter much misrepresented. It is much more inoffensive 

 than is generally supposed, not, however, from amiability 

 but from indolence. Its favourite attitude is one of sullen 

 repose, with its arms drawn up, and its tail wound like a 

 watch-spring ready to strike. Yet it will not strike, as a 

 rule, unless bullied past all endurance, or held down so that 



