BRITISH REPTILES 



The eggs are carried by the female until they are hatched, 

 and the young has little or no difficulty in breaking the 

 transparent egg-membrane, and making good its exit. 

 Early in Autumn the thread-like young ones make their 

 appearance, and they number from six to twelve, some- 

 times less. It takes several years for them to reach the 

 adult state. The favourite food of this gardener's friend 

 is slugs, and these are sought for when it is getting dusk. 

 One instance is recorded of a male which ate no less than 

 seventeen slugs at a " sitting." Earth-worms are also 

 sought after, but if slugs are obtainable these are pre- 

 ferred. In view of this, every tiller of the soil should 

 encourage, rather than destroy, this beneficent creature. 

 It appears to be the common grey slug of our gardens 

 which is most relished, and it is interesting to note that, 

 so unconcerned is the former, it does not realise that the 

 Slow Worm is intending to make a meal of it, and no 

 effort is put forth to get out of harm's way. The young 

 are at first silvery- white on the upper parts, and inky 

 black beneath. The line of demarcation along the 

 centre of the back is very conspicuous. Later on, the 

 underneath becomes mottled-grey, with brownish, 

 polished copper, or grey above. The skin is covered 

 with smooth rounded scales, and this is a characteristic 

 feature, as also the moveable eyelids. The average 

 length of a full-grown specimen, with the whole of the 

 tail intact, is from 12 to 15 inches.* Although the 



* Whilst this book was passing through the press, a specimen was 

 brought to me which measures 15^ inches, and is now in Letchworth 

 Museum. 

 18 



