British Reptiles and Amphibians 



(amp hi, double ; bios, life) breathe by gills in the early 

 stage of their existence, and by lungs when adults. 

 The eggs are deposited in the water, and the Tadpoles 

 hatched from them live a purely aquatic existence for a 

 time. While in this stage, being provided with gills, 

 they respire water, from which air is extracted, but in 

 later life they develop air-breathing lungs, and so can 

 live out of water. 



The names of the seven amphibians indigenous to 

 Britain are Great Warted Newt, Smooth Newt, Pal- 

 mated Newt, Common Toad, Natterjack, Common 

 Frog, and Edible Frog. 



The Great Warted Newt (Mo/ge cristata, 

 Plate XII.). 



During the breeding season the male of this species 

 is adorned with a distinctive crest, and this adornment 

 gains for the creature the rather popular title of Great 

 Crested Newt. This crest runs along the ridge of the 

 back and tail, and has a serrated edge. 



The name " Warted " arises from the fact that this 

 Newt has a very warty skin, especially so towards the 

 head and sides. A rather heavy fold of skin also 

 crosses the throat, and the tail is very flat with acute 

 edges. The universal colouring is dark brown, orange- 

 brown on the upper parts, and orange underneath. 

 Along the sides there usually are a number of white 

 spots. In the breeding season the male alters its 

 normal colouring somewhat, a band of silvery grey 



5° 



