COMMON SLOW- WORM 



Anguis Fragilis. J. griseo-riifescenSj dorso fusco-striatOj abdo" 

 mine plumbeo. 



Rvtfous-grey Slow-Vv^orm, with the back striated with brown, 



and lead-coloured abdomen. 

 Anguis fragilis* Lin. Si/st. Nat. p. 923. Laur. t. 5.f, 2* 

 Cascilia. Aldr. Gesn. Raj. Jonst. SfC, 

 Blind-Worm. Pcnn. Brit. Zool. 4. p, 23. pi 4. 

 Long-Cripple. Borl. Cornw. p. 284. pi. 28. mala. 

 Abdominal scales 135, subcaudal 135. 



This species is found in almost all parts of Eu- 

 rope in similar situations with the common Snake, 

 and is a perfectly innoxious animal, living on 

 worms and insects : its usual length is from ten to 

 twelve inches, and sometimes even more : its co- 

 lour is pale rufous brown above, with three nar- 

 row longitudinal dorsal streaks or lines of a darker 

 cast ; and beneath a deep lead-colour : the head is 

 rather small, and covered in front with large 

 scales, as in most other innoxious serpents : the 

 eyes are very small : the tail measures more than 

 half the length of the animal, and terminates 

 pretty suddenly in a slightly acuminated tip. 

 The Slow-Worm is a viviparous animal, and some- 

 times produces a very numerous offspring : like 

 other serpents, it varies in intensity of colours at 

 different periods, and the young are commonly 

 of a deeper cast than their parent : the general 

 motions of this animal are rather slow than 

 otherwise, except when endeavouring to escape; 

 and the young seem to move more slowly than 



