MALTA AND SICILY. 
173 
Green lizards are very abundant on almost 
every old wall. We have blow-piped a 
great many, and several of the kind called 
wood-slaves: the latter have such tough 
skins and constitutions, that a pellet of clay, 
unless discharged from a very short distance, 
often produces no effect whatever on them ; 
1 have therefore adopted the plan of mixing 
a few small shot with it, which increases the 
force of the blow greatly. We do not meet 
with many snakes at this season of the year, 
but I have several kinds, one of which has very 
much the appearance of a viper, but on examin¬ 
ing his mouth he proves to be quite a harmless 
species, having no venomous fangs. One 
day when we were botanizing at Coradino, 
William saw a large, and nearly black snake, 
but he had retreated into his hole before I 
could reach the spot; neither did he think 
proper to appear again, though we remained 
