BRITISH REPTILES 



stinging capacities, of Snakes that with double tongue 

 " may with a mortal touch throw death upon thy 

 sovereign's enemies," Spenser speaks of " the stings 

 of Aspes that kill with smart," and Dryden again has a 

 liking for saying that " a Serpent shoots his sting.'' 



Snakes also are still believed to have a power of 

 fascinating their prey, and one would hardly credit that, 

 as late as the time of John Wesley, we find that eminent 

 divine stating that a Swallow seeing a Snake beneath, 

 stops his insect-catching, flies over the crafty reptile on 

 the ground, and finally sinks until the bird drops into 

 the mouth of the expectant host ! 



Shakespeare in " King Henry VI " says : " What ! 

 Art thou like the Adder waxen deaf ? " In the Psalms 

 there is a reference to " the deaf Adder that stoppeth her 

 ear," and although Snakes have no external ears, is there 

 any reason to suppose that any of them are deaf ? 



The poor despised Slow Worm has been the target 

 for much ridicule and abuse, but three instances must 

 suffice. Shakespeare christens it : " The eyeless 

 venom'd worm," and actually advises, as one of the 

 ingredients of the witch's cauldron, " a Blind Worm's 

 sting." Herrick philosophises thus : — 



" No will-o'-th'-wlspe mis-light thee : 

 Nor Snake or Slow-worme bite thee." 



Lastly, our beloved Scott helps to perpetuate the 



fable as to this creature's slimy and slow character thus : 

 B 



