SLOW-WORM. 143 



the body just behind it. The tail, which is much longer than 

 the head and body, and longer in the male than in the female, 

 tapers gradually, and is very slender before ending in the short 

 sharp point at the tip. In many examples this graceful taper- 

 ing of the tail is not evident, because at some time it has been 

 broken short, and the effort to renew it, whilst it gives a sort of 

 finish, never appears to be a success. There is usually a 

 ragged end to the old part, and the narrower new part appears 

 to have been rather clumsily stuck inside the fringe of old 

 scales. Many specimens are in this condition, for the Slow- 

 worm is much more ready to part with its tail than either of 

 our other lizards. The scales on the upper and undersides are 

 nearly uniform in size and shape, broader than in the other 

 lizards and rounded on the hind margin which is thinner than 

 the dark-coloured central part of the scale. The scales are 

 quite without keels, polished and plainly overlap their fellows. 

 There is a thin dark line down the centre of the back, and 

 another on the upper part of each side. 



The small mouth has the jaws well armed with uniform 

 slightly curved teeth, whose points are all directed backwards. 

 The bright eyes are placed low down, not much above the 

 upper jaw. The head is covered by much larger scales than 

 usual, but in this case the head regions are not so clearly 

 mapped out as in the other species, owing to the thin edges of 

 the scales giving no strong outlines. With a live Slow-worm 

 in the hand one gets a clear idea of the smoothness and close 

 attachment of the scaly covering. The feeling conveyed is 

 that there are no scales : that the external coat is continuous 

 and homogeneous ; and one marvels at the reptile's power of 

 gliding rapidly through the fingers. Though the Slow-worm 

 may be found on the edge of the wood, or on the heath, sunning 

 itself early in the spring, and apparently a lifeless casting in 

 bronze, on the slightest alarm it dives into the vegetable soil 

 and speedily disappears. In its basking attitude Slow-worm 



