Blind Worm

Blind Worm (Anguis fragilis). a limbless lizard of the family Scincidae [skink], without external limbs, occurring in Great Britain, distributed over Europe except in the extreme north and in Sardinia, and found also in Africa and Western Asia, It is usually from 10 inches to 14 inches long (though larger specimens are recorded), of nearly uniform thickness throughout, but with a slight taper towards the tail. The colour is brownish-grey, with a silvery lustre, and there is a black line down the centre of the back. The popular name is misleading, for the small, bright eyes are distinctly visible. These reptiles are shy and timid, passing the day in their holes and coming out at night to feed on worms, insects, and small slugs. Country people consider them venomous, but as they have no poison-fangs their bite is innocuous, and their teeth are too small to draw blood. Blind worms are easily frightened, and then contract their muscles so forcibly as to render the body rigid, and in this condition they are easily broken in two by a slight blow, or by an attempt to bend it. Some writers say that "a sudden fright is sufficient, While you are looking at the tail wriggling and jumping about, the body quietly makes its escape." The females are ovoviviparous, and the young - from seven to twelve or more in number - are generally born in the summer. These animals pass the winter in a torpid condition, several of them occupying one hole. The name Slow-worm is generally said to refer to its tardy motion; it is really from A.S. sla wyrm, the slay-worm, and embodies the old belief in its poisonous character.