Batrachian Study 



199 



The male has the hind legs very large and flat; the female is lighter 

 in color and has more delicate and smaller legs. It is here in the water 

 that the efts find their mates and finish careers which must have surely 

 been hazardous. During its long and varied life, the eft often sheds its 

 skin like the snake; it has a strange habit of swallowing its cast-off coat. 



LESSON XLVIII 

 THE XEWT, EFT OR "SALAMANDER" 



Leading thought The newts change their form three 

 times to fit different modes of life. They are born in the 

 water and at first have fins and gills like fishes. They then 

 live on land, and have lungs for breathing air and lose 

 their fins; later they go back to the water and again 

 develop the power of breathing the oxygen contained in 

 water and a fin. 



Method The little, orange eft or red-spotted salaman- 

 der may be kept in an aquarium which has in it an 

 object, as a stone or a clump of moss which projects above 

 the water. For food it should be given small earthworms Early stage of 



spotted newt. 

 . Eggs of newt 



Is it all the attached(to 



Drawn by Anna 

 Stryke. 



or leaves covered with plant lice. In this way it may be VermiUon- 

 studied at leisure. 



Observations i. Look at the eft closely. 



same color? How many spots upon its back and what water plant. 

 colors are they? Are there the same number of spots on 

 both sides? Are there any spots or dots besides these 

 larger ones? How does the eft resemble a toad? 



2. Is the head the widest part of the body? Describe the eyes, the 

 shape and color of the pupil and of the iris. How does the eft wink!* 

 Do you think it can see well ? 



3 . Can you see the nostrils ? How does the throat move and why ? 



4. Are both pairs of legs the same size? How many toes on the front 

 feet? How many toes on the hind feet? Does the eft toe-in with its 

 front feet like a toad ? 



5. Does it move more than one foot at a time when w r alking? Does it 

 use the feet on the same side in two consecutive steps? After putting for- 

 ward the right front foot what foot follows next ? Can it move backward ? 



6. Is the tail as long as the head and body together 5 Is the tail 

 round or flat at the sides 5 How is it used to help the eft when traveling? 

 Does the tail drag or is it lifted, or does it push by squirming? 



7. How does the eft act when startled? Does it examine its sur- 

 roundings? Do you think it can see and is afraid of you? 



8. Why do w r e find these creatures only during wet weather? Why 

 do people think they rain down 5 



9. What does the eft eat 5 How does it catch its prey? Does it shed 

 its skin ? How many kinds of efts have you seen ? 



10. From what kind of egg does the eft hatch 5 When is this egg 

 laid? How does it look? On what is it fastened? 



1 1 . How many times during its life does the orange eft change color? 

 What part of its life is spent upon land? What changes take place in its 

 form when it leaves the water for life upon land, and what changes take 

 place in its structure, when it returns to the water? 



