iii8 Home Nature-Study Course. 



Lesson V 



THE NEWT OR EFT 



Purpose. — To interest the children in the life of the newts, which 

 change their form three times to fit different modes of Hfe. 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. 



Observations: by pupils 



(i.) Look at the eft closely and see whether you can find any re- 

 semblance between it and the toad. 



(2.) Is it all the same color? How many spots upon its back and 

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

 sides? Are there any spots or dots besides these larger ones? Does 

 the eft look brighter when wet or dry? 



(3.) Is the head the widest part of the body? Describe the eves, 

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

 Do you think it can see well? 



(4). Can you see the nostrils? How does the throat move and 

 why? 



(5). Are both pairs of legs of 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? 



(6). Does it move more than one foot at a time when walking? Does 

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

 forward the front right foot what foot follows next? 



(7). Can an eft move backward? 



(8). Is the tail as long as the head and body together? Is the tail 

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

 Does the tail drag or is it lifted or does it push by moving this way 

 and that? 



(9). How does the eft act when startled? Does it examine its sur- 

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



(10). Why do we find these creatures only during wet weather? 

 Why do people think they rain down? 

 (11). W'hat does the eft eat? How does it catch its prey? 



(12). Does the eft shed its skin like a toad or snake? How many 

 kinds of efts have you seen? 



(13). From what kind of eggs does the eft hatch? When is this egg 

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



