OR, PLAIN 



TEACHING. 



251 



frequently found in its retreat, 

 intertwined with several of its 

 own species, and in almost a 

 torpid state. In the summer, 

 during the hours of sunshine, 

 they may be seen entwined 

 around the branches of a bush 

 or tree, sunning themselves, and 

 perchance asleep. Their eggs 

 are also frequently to be found. 

 They are white, and covered 

 with a strong membrane, but 

 have no shells. They are laid 

 in long strings, from sixteen to 

 twenty eggs being in each chain. 



The empty skin of the snake may often be 

 found among bushes, where the creature has 

 gone, in order to assist itself in casting off its 

 old skin. Snakes, as well as other animals, wear 

 out their coats, and are obliged to change them 

 for others. When the change is about to take 

 place, and a new coat has formed under the old, 

 like a new skin under a blister, the creature 

 betakes itself to some spot where is thick grass, 

 reeds, or similar substances. A rent then opens 

 in the neck, and the snake, by wriggling about 

 among the stems, literally crawls out of its skin, 

 which it leaves behind, turned inside out. Even 

 the covering of the eyes is cast away, and, in 

 consequence, the snake is partially blind for a 

 day or two previous to the moult, if we may 

 call it so. 



There is a little animal, com- 

 monly taken to be a snake, and 

 1 



654. 



often killed from fear of its sup- 

 posed venomous properties. This 

 is the blind worm, 1, or slow worm. 



This is not a snake at all, but a 

 lizard, and it is perfectly harm- 

 less, living upon insects, and 

 having no semblance of poisonous 

 fangs. It is called by naturalists 

 the anguis fragilis. It is called 

 fragile, on account of its habit ol 

 snapping its body in two, when 

 struck. 



Only very lately, 1 saw an example of this 

 strange propensity, and was the cause of it. 

 Near D over 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 success rather 

 remarkable, for the very slight blow that the 

 creature could have received from so insigni- 

 ficant 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. 

 On pushing among the leaves, I found with 

 regret that the creature was only a blind 

 worm. 



A curious performance was being exhibited 

 by the severed tail, a portion of the animal 

 about five inches long ; this was springing and 

 jumping about with great liveliness and agility, 

 entirely on its own account, for by this time 

 the blind worm itself had made its escape, and 

 all search was unavailing. 



Some ten minutes' or so were consumed in 

 looking for the reptile itself ; and by that time 

 the activity of the tail was at an end, and it 

 was lying flat on the ground, coiled into a 

 curve of nearly three-fourths of a circle. I 

 gave it a push with the stick, when I was 

 startled by the severed member jumping fairly 

 into the air and recommencing its dance with 

 as much vigour as before. This performance 

 lasted for -some minutes and was again exhibited, 

 when the tail was roused by another touch fn-ni 

 the stick. Nearly half an hour elapsed bi fore 

 the touch of the stick failed to make the tail 

 jump, and even then it produced sharp con- 

 vulsive movements. 



• The object of this strange compound of insen- 

 sibility and irritability may perhaps be, that 

 when an assailant's attention is occupied by 

 looking at the tail, the creature itself may 

 quietly make its escape.* 



The common toad, 2, is found 

 in shady places in woods, gardens, 

 and fields. In the early part of 

 the spring it retires to the waters, 

 where it continues during the 

 breeding season, and deposits .its 

 ova or spawn in the form of 



• Re* J. G. Wood's " Common Object* of tha 

 Country" 



