l62 



OTHER DENIZENS OF THE WOODS 



this reptile lives in holes, which it burrows in the ground ; it requires less sun than 

 other lizards, although fond of sunning itself from time to time, and often coming 

 to the surface before rain. When resting outside its hole, it remains motionless, 

 and this habit, in conjunction with its brown, earthy colour, renders it difficult of 

 detection, except by a practised eye, especially if only the head peeps out of the 

 hiding-place. If an attempt be made to drag it out, it pushes itself with surprising 

 force against the sides of its hole ; and would sooner be torn to pieces than yield. 

 In other ways it proves to be remarkably strong. When in the grip of a viper, for 

 instance, if it succeed in attaching its tail to a plant or other object, it often 

 gives the snake trouble for hours. Blind worms are also inclined to intertwine 

 with one another. When alone, of course, they lie flat on the ground, while the 

 comparatively small eyes keep a sharp lookout on what goes on in the vicinity, 

 for blindworms are undeservedly so called ; next to hearing, sight being one of 



( < »';' 





■ 



THE BLINDWORM. 



their best developed senses. When an enemy approaches, blindworms withdraw to 

 their hiding-places. Tame fines do not, however, thus withdraw, but occasionally 

 will even come out of their holes when a slight noise indicates the time for feeding. 

 They behave in many ways quite differently from the true lizards, their move- 

 ments being somewhat slow, and rather awkward and stiff, although this is probably 

 due in some measure to the character of their scaly coat. Blindworms can only 

 move in wide curves, thus rendering their progress on flat ground so slow that 

 they can easily be followed at a moderate pace. But if they get into water, which, 

 by the way, they endeavour to avoid, they swim rather fast, with their heads above 

 the surface. Although not hard to catch, they must not be taken by the tail, 

 which easily breaks off, and frequently gets lost through the violent struggles 

 of the animal : it is an exception for them to bite the hand, but, when they do, 

 they do not readily let go. Naturally, they cannot do much damage with their 

 feeble teeth; blindworms, in fact, arc very harmless, and feed on comparatively 

 sluggish animals, such as worms, smooth caterpillars, and slugs. On sighting a 



