CHAPTER VII 



BRITISH REPTILES 



To many, the name "reptile" still suggests a slimy, ugly and 

 dangerous creature. This fact is probably due to an inherited 

 instinct that for generations has brought cruel treatment to a 



class of animals by far 

 the greater number of 

 which are not only 

 perfectly harmless, but 

 of grea 

 interest. 

 Even 

 naturalists 



beauty and 



among 



field 



o 



it is com- 

 paratively rare to find 

 any one who has made 

 these animals his special 

 study, notwithstanding 

 that although we have 

 but few native reptiles, 

 many points in their 



life histories still remain obscure. 



This is the greater pity, since it is easy to keep all our reptiles 



with the exception of the adder in conditions to some extent 



resembling nature, and in which they will live and thrive, and 



in some cases breed. 



It is not difficult to make useful vivaria in which these animals 



and amphibia may be kept successfully. 



From a photograph by Douglas English, B.A. 



FIGURE 90. A Viper. 



