100 HALF-HOURS IN THE GREEN LANES. 



standing the vices fathered on this really pretty 

 ooject, it is perfectly harmless. Its common name 

 is taken from its supposed blindness, but like those 

 of the mole, the eyes are only small, and partially 

 hidden by the scales. It is seldom more than nine 

 or ten inches in length, and looks to perfection when 

 soon gracefully and silently gliding through the grass 



Kig. 7;,. 



Tail of Blindworm. 



oil the hedge-bank. In Lancashire and Cheshire, whilst 

 the blindworm is believed to be eyeless, the viper, or 

 adder, is affirmed to be deaf. An old distich alludes 

 to this belief, and shows us how the poor, harmless 

 blindworm has been made to share the dislike that 

 the viper, perhaps, does deserve. The adder, ad- 

 dressing the blindworm, says : 



" If 1 could hear, and thou could'st seo, 

 Tbnre should nobody live but thee and me." 



