46 



which was put into the cage, and appeared to delight in 

 it. The Blind- worm was a remarkably fine one, measuring 

 fifteen inches in length. It cast its slough whilst in my 

 keeping. The skin came off in separate pieces, the largest 

 of which was two inches in length ; splitting first on the 

 belly, and the peeling from the head being completed the 

 last." 



These are interesting particulars ; but it is certain that 

 when in a state of liberty they do not exclusively live upon 

 slugs, as I have found the remains of insects in the sto- 

 mach ; and they will also feed readily on earth-worms, 

 even of six or seven inches long, according to the testimony 

 of M. de Sept-Fontaines, as quoted by Lacepede. 



The last-mentioned Erpetologist, who, however, like his 

 colleague Buffon, was too credulous of all the stories told 

 him, declares that this reptile would swallow mice, small 

 rats, frogs, and toads. This is the statement of a person 

 who has rather received for granted the assertions of the 

 ignorant, than taken the trouble to observe for himself. The 

 fact is, that the wholly undilatable character of the mouth 

 necessarily restricts it to the deglutition of such prey as can 

 be received within its narrow and circumscribed gape. 



One very interesting point in its habits, is its being ovo- 

 viviparous. Like the last-described species, the Zootoca 

 vivipara, the young of this animal are hatched before they 

 come into the world ; and it is probable that in this case, 

 as in that of the species just named, as well as in the Viper 

 and the Rattlesnake, the rupture of the membrane of the 

 egg takes place during the parturition. The female is said 

 to go with young about six weeks or two months : there 

 can be no doubt, however, that the duration of this period 

 must depend upon the temperature to which the animal is 

 exposed. They are produced in June or July. The num- 



