Identifier: lifehistoryof00leig (find matches)
Title: The life-history of British lizards : and their local distribution in the British Isles
Year: 1903 (1900s)
Authors: Leighton, Gerald (Gerald Rowley), b. 1868
Subjects: Lizards Reptiles
Publisher: Edinburgh : George A. Morton London : Simpkin, Marshall
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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iberate than in the case ofthe snakes, not a rapid quivering, but a somewhatslow protrusion and withdrawal. After swallowing aslug^it is amusing to see the slow-worm lick its jawsfor a minute or two with the tongue, at the sametime usually giving some huge yawns and gapes. As regards the size that the slow-worm attains,very various statements have been made. It is notat all uncommon to find a specimen 15 or 16 incheslong, and I once captured a beautiful bright copper-coloured male in a wood in Dorset which measured17 J inches. This is the largest that I have personallytaken, but they have been reported up to 18 inches.The specimen just mentioned did not grow any longerduring the next year and a half that he inhabited myvivarium. There are no very prominent markings on thisspecies, but a close inspection will reveal the existenceof a thin, dark line along the side of the body, some-what similar in appearance to the lateral line in fishes.A similar dark line may be seen running down the
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THE SLOW-WORM, AN GUIS FBAGILIS 31 middle line of the back. The lateral line is dis-tinctly seen in the illustration. Hahits.—It is no easy task to gain a clear ideaof the habits of lizards in nature, as they are notcreatures which obtrude themselves upon the notice.Still, continuous searching for these reptiles will con-vince the naturalist that they live a simple and quietlife without much variety in it. He will come to thisconclusion from finding the great majority of hisspecimens under very similar circumstances. If thetemperature be cool, the slow-worm remains under thecovering protection of vegetation or under stones,particularly flat tombstones in country churchyards.Hence, in obedience to that love of warmth and sun-shine which is inherent in reptiles, they emerge tosun themselves on grassy banks on country roadsidesor secluded footpaths. Lying perfectly still amongstthe grass on such a bank, it is by no means easy tosee the animal even when it is straight in front ofthe obs

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