British reptiles and batrachians . longer than the body, and in the female the bodyexceeds the tail in length ; so that it is not difficult to distinguishthe sexes. But when the tail is very much shorter than the body,it has probably lost an inch or so. It is very common to say thatthe slow-worm breaks in halves; a figure of speech arisingfrom the fact of its having a long tail, as it is only this latter thatbreaks, never the body, of course. It is a most gentle, timid littlecreature, fear causing it to contract its muscles to such an extentthat it becomes brittle, and requires the most carefu
British reptiles and batrachians . longer than the body, and in the female the bodyexceeds the tail in length ; so that it is not difficult to distinguishthe sexes. But when the tail is very much shorter than the body,it has probably lost an inch or so. It is very common to say thatthe slow-worm breaks in halves; a figure of speech arisingfrom the fact of its having a long tail, as it is only this latter thatbreaks, never the body, of course. It is a most gentle, timid littlecreature, fear causing it to contract its muscles to such an extentthat it becomes brittle, and requires the most careful will feel it tightening itself round your fingers, which it doesfor safety, and from fear of falling when in a strange situation ; 86 REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS. and if at such times you endeavour forcibly to unwind it, thechances are a portion of its tail, which is in a measure prehensile,will break off. When accustomed to be held it does not contractitself so persistently, but twines in and about the fingers, some-. Fig. zg.—Angnis fragilis in a knot. From life by the author. times getting itself into a very pretty knot, out of which it glideswhen placed on the table, in an extremely interesting manner (fig. 29).The ribs of Angiris fragilis are very numerous and very fine. Bymeans of these it appears to glide, as snakes do; but you can detectno action in them ; and the quiet sliding, gliding progression of thelittle creature is very wonderful. Silent, and with no effort, scarcelycausing movement in a blade of grass or a spray of moss as itpenetrates below that with which its cage is furnished. Its habitsare to burrow, and the moment it is released from your handdown it goes into its mossy floor. Worms are, I think, itsfavourite food, but it takes flies, caterpillars, slugs, and manysmall things; and, like the Batrachians, will seize them only whenthey move, as if it did not recognise them when drinks freely, and must always have a pan of clean wat
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