NEWTS. 379 
Saxon ‘‘Efete.” ‘‘An Evet” has clearly been shortened into 
‘““A Newt,” the ‘‘v,’’ as is frequently the case in our language, 
becoming ‘‘w.’’ The creature is also known in different parts of 
Britain as the ‘‘Water Evet or Eft,’ the ‘‘ Ask,’ the ‘‘ Dry- 
Asx,” the ‘*‘ Man-Kater”’ and ‘‘Man-Keeper’”’ (these last two 
titles are owing to Irish superstitions concerning this animal), 
the ‘‘ Lewker,’’ and the ‘‘ Asgal.”’ 
Smooth Newts are very suitable inmates of a fernery, for liking 
dampness and shade, they do well there, and keep the plants free 
of hurtful insects. They are, indeed, far more fitted for this pur- 
pose than even Lizards, as these Reptiles really require such an 
Fig. 95.—THE PALMATE NEWT (Molge palmata). 
amount of sunshine that it is apt to be injurious to the ferns. 
Smooth Newts feed upon small aquatic and other animals and 
earth-worms ; in confinement the annelids will form its most con- 
venient food. 
M. vulgaris is found in Great Britain and in most of the other 
parts of Europe, with the exception of the South of France, 
Spain, and Portugal. It is also a native of the temperate por- 
tions of Asia. When fully grown, this Batrachian is about 4in. 
in length. 
The Palmated Newt (Molge palmata, Fig. 95), which is only 
found in certain parts of Britain, is a very pretty little creature. 
It is the smallest of all the Newts, and is distinguished from 
