84 REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS. 



a long interval; but in captivity reptiles seldom live long enough 

 to permit of accurate observations. A slow-worm (" Blackie," 

 p 458 of "Snakes") which I caught on "The Common" at 

 Bournemouth, had barely half the usual length of tail. Several 

 inches of it must have got broken off, leaving a very blunt point 

 which had become perfectly healed and rounded, but presented 

 no signs of growing any longer. Nor did I see any change in it 

 during the four months that it survived. There is still much to 

 be studied and observed in reptile life, and I trust some of my 

 readers may feel induced to afford these interesting pets a place 

 in their vivarium. 



