BRITISH SNAKES. 47 



which bite an old author says that, " unless remedy 

 be had, there followeth mortality or death, for the 

 poyson thereof is very strong ". 



Fortunately for us, we have but one poisonous 

 reptile, the viper ; and the slow-worm is as innocent 

 of poison as an earthworm. It is true that, if pro- 

 voked, it will sometimes bite ; but its mouth is so 

 small, and its teeth so minute, that it cannot even 

 draw blood. 



The names that are given to it are hardly in 

 accordance with its formation, for it is not very 

 sluggish in its movements, although it can be easier 

 taken than the lizard ; while it is anything but blind, 

 and its eyes, though small, are brilliant. Perhaps 

 the epithets ought to have been applied to the givers, 

 and not to the receiver. 



As for the real snakes, there are but two species in 

 England, one being called the Viper, or Adder, and 

 the other the Einged, or Grass-snake. The Viper is 

 rather to be avoided, as it is possessed of poison- 

 fangs, and if irritated, is not slow in using them. 



Of this latter I have little to say, and would not 

 have mentioned it excepting for two reasons : the 

 one to enable any person to distinguish it from the 

 common snake, and to avoid, as far as possible, the 

 chance of being bitten ; and the other to tell how to 

 heal the bite, should so untoward an event happen. 



Poisonous snakes may be readily known by the 

 shape of their head and neck ; the head being very 



