ed spider, or, as it is generally called in Wales, the
Tailor, is an object of cruel sport to children. They catch it, and then
handle it roughly, saying the while:--

Old Harry long-leg
Cannot say his prayers,
Catch him by the right leg,
Catch him by the left leg.
And throw him down stairs;

and then one leg after the other is plucked off, and the poor creature is
left to die miserably. This was done in Llanidloes.

_The Squirrel_.

Hunting this sprightly little animal became at Christmas the sport of our
rustic population. A number of lads gathered together, and proceeded to
the woods to hunt the squirrel. They followed it with stones and sticks
from tree to tree, shouting and screaming, to frighten it on and on,
until it was quite unable to make further progress, and then they caught
it. The writer, when a lad, has often joined in this cruel hunt, but
whether the squirrel was killed when caught he is unable to recall to
mind. Generally it escaped.

_The Blind Worm_, _or Slow Worm_.

This reptile is a snake, varying from twelve to eighteen inches long.
Its head is small, and its movements very rapid. At the slightest noise,
it darts away in a moment, and hides among rocks, stones, or rank grass.
It is said to have no eyes, but this is a popular mistake--hence,
however, its name, _Blind Worm_. This beautiful timid creature is often
wantonly cut into pieces by its cruel and mistaken captors, for they
credit it with the possession of evil propensities. It is said that,
could it see, it would be a formidable enemy to man and beast. This
supposition has found strength and sanction in doggerel verse. The Blind
Worm is said to address the adder as follows:--

If I could see,
As well as thee,
Man nor beast
Should ne'er pass me.

Another version of these lines, heard in Shropshire, on the borders of
Wales, is:--

If I had one eye,
As thou hast two,
No man should live,
Nor beast should loo (low).

These doggerel lines indicate clearly the dread in which this innocent
snake is held.

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