THE blind-worm's STING. 39 



In one instance, however, the word worm denotes 

 some species of venemous reptile ; for Cleopatra asks 

 the countryman who brings her " the aspick," 

 " Hast thou the pretty worm of Nilus here, that kills 

 and pains not ? " and some commentators have attri- 

 buted a similar meaning to the words used by the 

 disguised duke when addressing Claudio : 



" Thou art by no means valiant, 

 For thou dost fear the soft and tender fork 

 Of a poor worm." — Measure for Measure, Act III. Sc. I. 



In this opinion I for one do not concur. It seems 



to be more probable that in this instance, and in 



the line, 



" Worm nor snail do no offence," — 



(Midsummer Night's Dream, Act II. Sc. III. 



the common earth-worm, which truly belongs to the 

 class Vermes, is the creature alluded to. The word 

 worm occurs again in the enumeration by the witches 

 in " Macbeth," of " the ingredients of our cauldron." 

 But here the " bhnd-worm's sting" is ob\'iously in- 

 tended to apply to the Anguis fragilis, or blind- worm 

 of Great Britain, a reptile which, I believe, is not 

 found in Ireland. I saw it some years ago, for the 

 first time, in that part of Scotland — 



" Where Loch Vennachar in silver flows." 



I shall not at present dwell longer on the notice 



