THE BLINDWORM. 43 



neatness and fineness of the scales with which it 

 is covered. All separate as they are, they lap 

 over and close upon each other with such ex- 

 quisite exactitude, as to appear only as faint 

 markings upon the skin, requiring a magnifier 

 to ascertain their separations ; and to give him 

 additional facility of proceeding through rough 

 places, these are all highly polished, appearing 

 lustrous in the sun, the animal looking like a 

 thick piece of tarnished copper wire. When 

 surprised in his transit from the hedge, contrary 

 to the custom of snake or viper, which writhe 

 themselves away into the grass in the ditch, he 

 stops, as if fearful of proceeding, or to escape 

 observation by remaining motionless ; but if 

 touched, he makes some effort to escape. This 

 habit of the poor Slow-worm becomes frequently 

 the cause of his destruction.* 



This species is generally about ten inches in 

 length, and rarely exceeds fourteen inches. Its 

 general colour on the upper surface is of a 

 brownish grey, with a silvery or bright steel- 

 like appearance. There are commonly several 

 parallel rows of minute darker spots along the 

 sides, and one down the middle of the back. 

 Underneath it is of a bluish black, with a whitish 

 network. The young at first are whitish, then 



* Knapp's " Journal of a Naturalist," p. 309. 



