144 ANIMAL LIFE OF TPIE BRITISH ISLES. 



may be an appropriate name ; but when it begins to move we 

 are astounded that it has been able to keep so ridiculous 

 a name. 



The food of the Slow-worm is governed by the small size of 

 the mouth. It is not an easy matter to study its feeding habits 

 when it is at large, and our knowledge of its food preferences 

 have been derived mainly from Slow-worms in captivity. It 

 will take spiders, small earthworms, and small insects ; but 

 always shows a marked preference for the small greyish-white 

 slug (Lima* agrestis) that is so great a pest to the grower of 

 tender vegetables. This slug the Slow-worm consumes in 

 quantity. Dr. Gerald Leighton, in his book on the " British 

 Lizards," says : " I can vouch for a meal that consisted of 

 seventeen slugs, the Slow-worm being a large male sixteen 

 inches long. But the usual number taken seems to be from 

 four to ten." Its principal feeding time is soon after sunset, 

 when the slugs are most in evidence on the surface and 

 beginning to make their nefarious attacks on the food of man. 

 If the gardener, professional and amateur, could only be taught 

 such facts, the sudden descent of the sharp edge of spade or 

 hoe upon one of his ablest helpers might be stayed. The 

 reptiles and the batrachians are all his friends. 



Like the Common Lizard, the female Slow-worm retains her 

 eggs until they are fully developed, so that in August or 

 September she produces a litter of six to twelve animated silver 

 needles about two inches in length, with a thin black line along 

 the centre of the back, and black on the underside. These are 

 very active and very beautiful, perfectly independent and able 

 to fend for themselves, catching insects, but at once showing 

 preference for slugs if these are to be found of a size small 

 enough to pass the tiny mouth. There is a record of a batch 

 that were three inches in length at birth, but this is unusual. 

 Occasionally the eggs are deposited before hatching. 



Although in early spring the Slow-worm may be seen along 



