NATURAL HISTORY. 



403 



Buckland in 1825, and from whom all air was cut off, died be- 

 fore a year's imprisonment. The Toad casts its skin at certain 

 times, but we never find the slough as we do that of the snake, 

 as the toad invariably swallows its former covering. 



Sub-order II. GRADIENTIA. (Lat. wal-kiny animals.) 



Family I. . . . Salamandridre. (Gr. "Zahdptavdpa, a Salamander.) 



TRITON. (Gr. "tpiruv, a Sea-god.) 



Cristatus (Lat. nested), the Common. Newt. 



The NEWTS are separated from the lizards on account of their 

 changes while young. Like the frogs, they are first tadpoles, 

 and do not assume their perfect shape until six weeks after 

 their exclusion from the eggs. 



The Common Newt is a beautiful inhabitant of the ponds, 

 ditches, and still waters. It feeds principally on tadpoles and 

 worms, which it eats with a peculiar rapid snap.* It is con- 



* I have frequently seen it attack the smaller newt with great perseverance, but I 

 was never fortunate enough to see it kill its prey. 



I kept some newts for some time in a large glass vessel, and noticed that when a 

 new inhabitant was added, it always cast its skin within two or three days. The 

 skin came off in pieces, the covering of the feet slipping off like a glove, but I could 

 never see how the creature contrived to pull it off. 



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