i6 
INTRODUCTION. 
Again, in Sonnet CXII., “the adder’s sense” is referred 
to in such a way as to leave no doubt of the poet’s 
impression that adders do not hear. 
“ Caliban. Sometime am I 
All wound with adders, who, with cloven tongues 
Do hiss me into madness.” 
Tempest , Act ii. Sc. 2 
The “eyeless venom’d worm ” referred to in Timon of 
Athens , Act iv. Sc. 3, is of course the Slow-worm ( Anguis 
fragilis). 
The observant naturalist must doubtless have remarked 
the partiality evinced by snakes and other reptiles for 
basking in the sun. Shakespeare has noticed that— 
“ The snake lies rolled in the cheerful sun.” 
Titus Andronicus , Act ii. Sc. 3. 
And— 
“ It is the bright day that brings forth the adder ; 
And that craves wary walking.” 
Julius Ccesar , Act ii. Sc. 1. 
I11 Macbeth } Act iii. Sc. 2, allusion is made to the won¬ 
derful vitality which snakes possess, and to the popular 
notion that they are enabled, when cut in two, to reunite 
the dissevered portions and recover :— 
“ We have scotch’d the snake, not kill’d it ; 
She’ll close and be herself.” 
