376 Wild Life in Wales 



of those caught were full-grown adults, three of them with 

 bodies distended with eggs. This was the only species of 

 Lizard (excluding the Slow-worm) which I identified in these 

 parts, and it is, indeed, the only one likely to occur here ; 

 but it is worth while mentioning that some of those seen on 

 the hills, near the Llanweddyn road, were of very large size. 

 A Welshman, who was with me one day, declared that he had 

 seen one that was eighteen inches in length, but it could not 

 be captured for verification. I do not, however, think it an 

 exaggeration to say that one or two of those I saw myself 

 were not less than half that size. The Lizard is the Madfall 

 of the Welshman, and is generally regarded as venomous. 



The Slow-worm is called Pwl dall^ pool blind, or Neidr 

 ddafad^ sheep-adder, and is not uncommon, but by no means 

 numerous, being always destroyed at sight as a snake. A 

 female I picked up near Glan Rafon, on I9th August, was 

 heavy with young. The otter hounds were drawing the 

 Lliw at the time, and my handling " the snake " caused no 

 small stir amongst the field, while I had to carry it off in my 

 pocket to prevent it being killed. It is difficult to imagine 

 why a creature, possessed of such bright and pretty eyes, 

 should have had the name of " Blind-worm " almost 

 universally bestowed upon it ; though possibly the mis- 

 nomer may have arisen from the fact of its having eyelids, 

 and closing its eyes in death, which, of course, a snake, being 

 devoid of these appendages, cannot do. If people could only 

 be persuaded to overcome their prejudice against its snake-like 

 appearance, the Slow-worm might be made a useful garden 

 pet, as slugs and worms constitute almost its only food. 



I did not see a single Viper (Gwiber^ or Neidr-ddu) in this 

 part of Wales, nor did anybody from whom information was 

 sought appear to know it. It can hardly, therefore, be a 

 very common reptile in the district, though on ground so 

 suitable to its requirements it is difficult to believe that it 

 does not occur. At Borth, on the coast of Cardiganshire, it 

 did not used to be uncommon, on the Cors Fochno, or as 

 we boys used to call it, " the Greasy Fritillary and Royal 

 Fern ground," from the fact of both these, to us rare 

 species, being found there. 



