CHAPTER IX 

 REPTILES 



HARMLESS 



COMMON LIZARD. Inhabiting dry rocky places, knowing' no culti- 

 vation, this creature shuns man's presence, and works in his behoof 

 by destroying insects and their larvae, also woodlice and other 

 pests ; yet seldom is opportunity lost of compassing its destruction. 



SAND LIZARD. Sandy heaths, more frequented by men than 

 formerly, are now less freed of insects than when this " creeping 

 thing " was less disturbed and had greater security for its life. 



BLIND-WORM. At the very sight of this snake-like creature 

 some persons shriek, and not a few rustics shrink, so long do 

 superstitious ideas endure; therefore, there is time for flight or 

 courage to summon into destruction. Thus the blind-worm, 

 useful in destroying worms, slugs and insects, ceases more and 

 more to exist. 



GRASS SNAKE. Dread of snakes so possesses mankind that all, 

 even the harmless, are ruthlessly destroyed whenever found, and 

 this despite of service rendered in devouring voles and mice, slugs, 

 woodlice, insects and their larvae. 



FROG. In better repute, no one wilfully kills the frog, as it is 

 not under saint and bard ban, like the serpent and toad ; therefore 

 it lives to benefit all mankind by destroying worms, slugs, woodlice, 

 millipedes, insects and their larvae, including leather-jackets and 

 wireworms, also gnats engendered in marshy places. 



TOAD. Ugly, ungainly and unprepossessing, the toad makes 

 amends by feeding upon slugs, woodlice, flies, earwigs and other 

 insects, including their larvae, such as caterpillars : for everything 

 lacking in appearance, it is one of the most valuable creatures to 

 the forester, farmer and gardener. 



NEWT. The newts are to water and damp spots what the toad 

 is to land in drier places, feeding upon small worms, slugs, wood- 

 lice and insects. 



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