320 APPENDIX Bl' T1IE 



is far inferior to that of our American fire-fly, Lampyris 

 Corusca. 



NOTE CO. 



THE SLOW-WORM, (anguis fragiiis) p. 210. 



They have in England a singular reptile, resembling a 

 snake in its appearance, but in reality, more of a lizard 

 in character, and belonging to a group called Saurophidia, 

 or lizard-snakes. This is the slow-worm, or blind-worm, 

 alluded to in the text. It is a scaly creature, about twelve 

 or fifteen inches in length, sluggish in its habits, and 

 perfectly harmless: Although frequently called the 

 blind-worm, it has small, but very brilliant eyes. Its 

 food consists of worms, beetles, &c. It burrows in the 

 earth, sleeping away most of the cold weather. A singu- 

 lar characteristic of this creature is its brittleness, whence 

 the epithet of fragiiis. When frightened or irritated, it 

 forcibly contracts its muscles, and if the slightest attempt 

 is made to bend it, or a trifling blow be given, it literally 

 breaks asunder ! 



The slow-worm is common in Europe, and in the 

 adjacent parts of Asia also. 



In England this slow-worm, with two lizards, and two 

 snakes, the common or ringed snake and the viper, make 

 up the entire list of reptiles found in the country. 



DD. 



THE DOER, OR CLOCK-BEETLE, (geotrupes stercorarius) p. 217. 



This insect, familiar to us Americans from our reading, 

 is not found in our own country. It much resembles, 

 however, our common rolling beetles in its appearance, 

 and these are closely allied to the far-famed sacred 

 Scarabeeus of the old Egyptians. 



