blind-woSm. 45 



popularly known by the name of the Blind- worm, 

 or Slow-worm ; and is not a snake at all, but a lizard 

 of the Skink tribe, without any legs. 



BLIND-WORM. 



The scientific name for it is Anguis fragilis ; and 

 it is called fragile on account of its custom of snap- 

 ping itself in two, when struck. 



Only very lately, I saw an example of this strange 

 propensity, and was the cause of it. Near Dover, 

 there is a small wood, where vipers are reported to 

 dwell ; and as I was walking in the wood, I caught 

 a glimpse of a snake-like body close by my foot. I 

 struck, or rather stabbed, it with a little stick — for 

 it had a very viperine look about it — and with suc- 

 cess rather remarkable, for the very slight blow that 

 the creature could have received from so insignificant 

 a weapon, used in such a manner. The viper was 

 clearly cut into two parts, but how or where could 

 not be seen, owing to the thick leaves and grass that 

 rose nearly knee-high. 



