

COMMON" SLOW-WORM. 



Anguis Fragilis. A. grisco-rufesccns, dot-so fusco-striato, abdo- 



mi/ie plwnbto. 

 Rufous-grey Slow-Worm, with the back striated with brown, 



and lead-coloured abdomen. 



Anguis fragilis. Lin. Syst. Nat. p. 923. Laitr. t. 5.f. C. 

 Ca3cilia. Aldr. Gtsn. Raj. Joust, fyc. 

 Blind- Worm. Penn. Brit. Zool. 4. p. 23. pi. 4. 

 Long-Cripple. Borl. Cornw. p. 284. pi. 28. mala. 

 Abdominal scales 135, subcaudal 135. 



THIS species is found in almost all parts of Eu- 

 rope in similar situations with the common Snake, 

 and is a perfectly innoxious animal, living on 

 worms and insects : its usual length is from ten to 

 twelve inches, and sometimes even more : its co- 

 lour is pale rufous brown above, with three nar- 

 row longitudinal dorsal streaks or lines of a darker 

 cast ; and beneath a deep lead-colour : the head is 

 rather small, and covered in front with large 

 scales, as in most other innoxious serpents : the 

 eyes are very small : the tail measures more than 

 half the length of the animal, and terminates 

 pretty suddenly in a slightly acuminated tip. 

 The Slow- Worm is a viviparous animal, and some- 

 times produces a very numerous offspring : like 

 other serpents, it varies in intensity of colours at 

 different periods, and the young are comnionly 

 of a deeper cast than their parent : the general 

 motions of this animal are rather slow than 

 otherwise, except when endeavouring to escape: 

 and the young seem to move more slowly than 



