71 
that member. Again, all snakes have, on the under surface, a 
row of very broad scales. These shields extend from side to side 
of the snake, and there is never more than one row. Here and 
there it may he that a scale is divided into two, but there are only a 
very few so divided. Now, if a blindworm be examined in the same 
way, it will be noticed that its under surface is protected by some 
eight or ten rows of s ales, moreover they will feel quite smooth if 
stroked the wrong way. If, however, these plates be rubbed from 
tail to head in a snake, the finger will keep on catching on their 
loose rough edges. Then again legless lizards move quite clumsily 
compared with snakes. 
The Scheltopusik is quite harmless and will live well in captivity. 
It is a native of the woods which cover the western part of the 
Continent, where it preys upon snails, mice, and worms. Its colour 
is a shining reddish brown, with a pale yellowish head. Like all 
the lizards, its tail becomes very brittle when the animal is alarmed. 
On account of its possessing these two properties of glass — brittlene.ss 
and lustre -it has beeu called popularly the Glass Snake (30 to 40 
inches). 
The Blindworm, also called the slow-worm, is not blind or 
slow, neither is it a worm. Rustics have called it a worm because 
of its short cylindrical body ; blind and slow on account of its 
remaining quite motionless when disturbed. They considered that 
it must be either unable to see at all or be very lethargic to remain 
quiet when in danger, for most creatures rush off under such circum- 
stances. The little animal tries no doubt to pass off as a dead stick. 
Whenever found it is ruthlessly destroyed, for most countrymen 
believe this harmless reptile to bv evei. more venomous than the 
adder i self. Almost all its time, especially towards evening, it is 
looking out for and devouring slugs, antf 's therefore one of the 
animals to be fostered on crop lauds, yet most farmers kill as many 
as they can find, ’.n captivity the blindworm will live very well soon 
becoming quite tame. It should be kept in a case well supplied 
with damp earth and moss into which the little creature will burrow. 
Small slugs and worms should constitute its food. It must have 
access to warm (not baking) sunshine, and when basking a careful 
examination will show it has eyes that are anything but blind. 
These reptiles may be caught in plenty in almost any rural district in 
south of England, as well as all over the Continent. They usually 
lie under old stones, boards, or fallen trunks of trees (12 to 14 inches). 
The Pearl Lizard and Spanish Eyed Lizard. — These two 
reptiles are really the same species, but in different stages of develop- 
ment. The Eyed variety is covered with a number of blue spots 
edged with brown on a dull green background. As the lizard grows 
older and bigger the spots on the back gradually die away, while 
those on the sides become larger. Their blue colouration becomes 
lighter and lack the brownish margins. Later the spots die away 
altogether and the lizard, which by that time has reached about two 
feet, becomes a uniform dull green, with occasional splashes of a 
faint yellow. In these last two stages it is often known as the Pearl 
Lizard (i to a feet). 
The Green Lizard is frequently reputed to be British, but no 
satisfactory proof of this has been so far forthcoming. However, it 
is very common all over the warmer parts of the Continent. It forms 
several well defined varieties, photographs of which will be seen in 
the foregoing pages. This lizard is of a delicate emerald tint, some- 
times devoid of markings, sometimes closely studded with black 
