268 URODELA. — SALAMANDRAD^. 



the angle at the base of the footstalk, and at 

 others, placing them within a folded leaf. In the 

 latter case, the manner in which she proceeds is 

 interesting and curious. We quote Professor 

 Bell's words of another species, which are, how- 

 ever, sufficiently descriptive of this: — "The 

 female, ^ selecting some leaf of an aquatic plant, 

 sits, as it were, upon its edge ; and folding it by 

 means of her two hinder feet, deposits a single 

 egg in the duplicature of the folded part of the 

 leaf, which is thereby glued most securely to- 

 gether, and the egg is thus effectually protected 

 from injury."* The process goes on through 

 the spring and early part of the summer, con- 

 tinuing much longer than that of the Anourous 

 Amphihia, 



In its growth and development, the Tadpole 

 of the Newt does not materially differ from that 

 of the Frog. Like that, it presents a beautiful 

 object for microscopic examination, the leaf-like 

 gills exhibiting the branchial circulation of the 

 blood, the red globules of which are seen " accele- 

 rated by momentary jerks through the vessels ;" — 

 while the beautiful transparency of the oar-like 

 tail offers no impediment to the view of the vital 

 fluid in the general or systemic circulation. 



About the beginning of July many of the 

 young Newts,, having completed their metamor- 

 phosis, leave the water, and remain on land. 

 And not long afterwards, the adults follow their 

 example, and creep about the herbage of the 

 banks, or resort to damp hollows, cellars in the 

 neighbourhood of rivers, and similar humid 

 retreats. The fine crest of the male besrins to 



British Reptiles," 122. 



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