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THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



worm is often kept in captivity, is easily tamed, and will live a long time in 

 a fern case, if fed on small slugs or worms, and kept supplied with water. 

 A correspondent to Science Gossip, speaks of one which had been in his 

 possession twenty-eight years. 



In former times the Blindworm was classed among the snakes, and certainly 

 it has a very snake-like appearance. It is, however, a lizard with invisible 

 legs, though the latter may be found in a rudimentary form beneath the 

 skin. It has also moveable eyelids and. a small gape like the Lizard. The 

 following is a description of the Blindworm. Its length varies from ten to 

 twelve or fifteen inches, and I have heard of monsters which reached eighteen 

 and nineteen inches. The upper surface is usually of a steely brown, with a 

 dark line down the back, and some along' the sides. Underneath it is black, 

 with a whitish network. There are several varieties of this reptile. One 

 mentioned in Science Gossip, Vol. 8, p. 117 — a blue-spotted one — is a very 

 remarkable variety. Another one found in the New Forest, and known as 

 the " Red Adder," and popularly supposed to be more poisonous than the 

 viper itself, is of a bright reddish-purple. Another found in Yorkshire a few 

 years ago was a brilliant copper colour. Others have occurred of different 

 shades of brown, from rich sienna to a dull leaden hue. There is, however, 

 not the slightest fear of the Blindworm being mistaken for any other British 

 reptile — its slightly square form, and obtusely -ending tail, rendering it easily 

 distinguishable from the snake-tribe, which it most neariy resembles. 

 Another good distinction is the joining between the body and tail, which is 

 easily to be seen. 



Standlahe, Witney, Oxon. 



THE ENTOMOLOGICAL YEAR. 



By ALBERT H. WATERS, B.A. 



FEBRUARY. 



It is on one of those mild days that we often have in February, especially 

 towards the end of the month, that we start on an afternoon's ramble. The 

 walk which J ask my readers to accompany me with in imagination is just 

 such an one as I have often taken. The afternoon is bright and genial as a 

 spring day, and when we reach the country we see the corn fields verdant 

 with the young green blades of wheat and barley, and making a pleasant 

 picture lighted up as they are by the bright beams of the sun. Overhead we 

 hear the lark's melodious song as he soars heavenwards, mounting higher and 

 higher into the blue sky, until he becomes such a tiny speck we can scarcely 



