334 SAUEOPSIDA. 



although suake-like, is a true lizard {Lacertilia), but devoid of 

 limbs. Why it is called the Blind-worm is unaccountable, for 

 it has well-developed eyes. The habits of this snake-like Lizard 

 are very interesting. They appear from their winter quarters 

 long before the Snakes and Amphibia. In the winter they bury 

 themselves in galleries in the earth beneath heaps of leaves and 



Fig. 1 72. ^Blind-worm (-ittgwM/rofl'zl is) — after Bell. (Nicholson.) 



in banks. The chief food consists of slugs and worms, which 

 they take in a very leisurely manner. The young are very 

 pretty — shining creamy yellow above, black below ; a black 

 line also running down the back which expands over the head. 

 They vary from nine to twelve or more at a birth. When 

 frightened they can readily cast off their tail, which seems to 

 retain vitality some time after severance from the body. The 

 Sand Lizard's tail breaks off similarly. 



