182 The Naturalist in Siluria. 



from actual measurement of several Slow-worms taken 

 in my own grounds, some of which were much above 

 fourteen inches in length, and one actually exceeding 

 seventeen inches. A curious habit of the creatures, 

 half-lizard, half-snake, which they have in common with 

 the true serpents, is their hybernating in bands of several 

 individuals, twisted and coiled up together. A man in 

 my employ, while working in a stone quarry, turned out 

 such a cluster from a cleft in the rocks, where they had 

 doubtless passed the whole of the winter. Awaking 

 from their semi-dormant state, and separating, there 

 were found to be sixteen of them. 



A CURIOUS CASE OF BADGER-DRAWING. 



In October, 1881, one of my friends out rabbiting 

 sent two of his dogs into the burrow of a badger, hoping 

 to draw the animal out. The hole, or " holt," as com- 

 monly called, was on the slope of Howie Hill, a lofty 

 eminence overlooking the Wye, some four miles below 

 the town of Ross. The dogs were fox-terriers, and valu- 

 able one of them being a prize-winner and, as time 

 passed without either reappearing, my friend became 

 anxious about them ; all the more that no sound, neither 

 bark nor yelp, came back out of the burrow. 



Hours were spent waiting, with every effort made to 

 coax the animals out. All in vain; neither call nor 

 whistle received any response from the subterranean 

 abode of the badger. 



There seemed no alternative but to use the pick, spade, 

 and shovel; which, in fine, were set to work with. As 



