Page:Natural History, Reptiles.djvu/146

138 already remarked, a beautiful and interesting link between the Lizards and the Snakes; but their whole anatomical structure, and other peculiarities manifest that their true affinities are with the former rather than the latter.

The technical characters of the genus Anguis are as follows: the body and tail are cylindrical and obtuse; the scales are smooth, overlapping,

nearly equal on the upper and under parts; the head is covered with about nine larger plates; the drum of the ear (tympanum) is concealed beneath the skin, but communicating with the air, according to MM. Duméril and Bibron, by a minute linear orifice; the teeth of the jaws are hooked and compressed; there are none on the palate; the eyes are furnished with three lids; there is no Head op slow-worm, external trace of limbs, but the bones of the shoulders and of the pelvis exist in a rudimentary form.

The common Slow-worm (Anguis fragilis, ) is often called the Blind-worm, from the minuteness of its eyes, which are, however, sharp and brilliant. The former appellation refers to the sluggishness of its movements, and the specific term fragilis, to the brittleness of its body, when the muscles are contracted from sudden fear. If laid hold of and pursued, instead of attempting to escape or to defend itself, it contracts itself to such a degree of rigidity as to be easily snapped in two.

Twelve inches may be considered the average